Norfolk man started dealing drugs after Covid furlough

Gerald Tubby, 57, turned to crime after finding himself in a "financial mess", as a result of a fall in his income and the fact that family members moved back into his bungalow.

Norwich Crown Court heard Tubby, who worked for Ikea, was caught after police were tipped off about his activities and raided his home in the Crescent, Newton Flotman.

Tubby, who had broken an ankle and was using a walking stick at the time, returned home while police were at the property and officers found 1,200 tablets of tramadol - a powerful opioid - in a plastic bag he was carrying, along with £3,000 in cash.

Gerald Tubby's home which was raided in Newton Flotman (Image: Denise Bradley)

Inside the house, police found more than 50g of pre-packed cocaine, worth between £4,000 and £5,000, cannabis and more than £10,000 in cash.

They also found mobile phones with a "number of messages", which showed he had been "buying dealer amounts of cocaine for onward sale".

Chris Youell, prosecuting, told the court the messages recovered during the search - on March 22, 2022 - showed Tubby had a "significant" number of customers.

The delivery driver appeared in court this week for sentencing, having admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Mr Tubby pictured outside of his home (Image: Denise Bradley)

He also admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of MDMA, being concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession with intent to supply tramadol and possession of cannabis.

Andrew Oliver, mitigating, said Tubby had made a "very foolish and stupid decision to supply drugs", because of the financial pressures caused by the pandemic, which saw him furloughed and family members move in with him.

Mr Oliver said Tubby had initially been supplying small amounts of drugs to people that he knew but before long pressure was exerted on him to take more drugs to supply.

He said it "got out of control" and went "above what he expected".

Judge Andrew Shaw (Image: Newsquest)

Judge Andrew Shaw said the drug dealing "was not low-level stuff by any means". But he accepted the drug dealing was "borne out of extreme circumstances" by Tubby who was "out of your depth".

Judge Shaw sentenced Tubby to two years in prison, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR).

Roger Howell described Mr Tubby as a neighbour from hell (Image: Denise Bradley)

THE DRUG DEALER NEXT DOOR

After his sentencing, reporter BRUNO BROWN went to the small lane in Newton Flotman where Tubby has lived in a bungalow for 13 years and where police started to unravel his drug dealing operation.

Roger Howell, 71, who has lived in the adjoining property for 30 years, said his criminal activities had aroused local suspicions.

"We knew he was dealing drugs as he would be out and come back late, people coming over," Mr Howell added.

"It wasn't very discrete and during lockdown, when people weren't about, we noticed such activity. It became pretty obvious what he was doing.

“Having him a neighbour has been terrible. It's made my life hell frankly."

'THINGS SNOWBALLED'

Speaking after his sentencing, Tubby said his career as a drug dealer had "snowballed" out of control.

“I did it at the start to make a bit of extra money and it snowballed out of control. We had rent arrears, all sort of financial issues.

"I took a decision to help a mate out getting a little bit, which snowballed out of control.

“Initially one person came to me and asked if I could get him some [cocaine].

"He then wanted more and I noticed the extra cash which I was using just to live on.

The father of one pictured outside of his home in Newton Flotman (Image: Denise Bradley)

“Then word spread and a few others wanted some.

"My supplier, as time went on, put pressure on me to get more and more, more than I could even shift.

"And it just so happened that at that moment, having taken much more than I usually would supply, I was caught.

“In a way getting caught has been a good thing because it’s made me clean up my act and sort things out.

"I’m looking to get back to living a normal life, get back to work and avoid people to do with that life - at all cost.

“I am lucky to have a new job as a delivery driver and when my foot is better I cannot wait to get back to work to earn an honest living.

“I’m still getting my head around that I’m not in jail and so grateful for another chance.

“I went to court with a bag packed expecting to go to jail."

The road leading to The Crescent where Mr Tubby lives (Image: Denise Bradley)