Stash worth more than £200k was then found during a raid
Police found a huge drugs haul potentially worth more than £200,000 on the streets that a serial drug dealer was “trusted” enough to be allowed to look after. The lucrative stashes of drugs included amphetamine worth up to £180,000 and heroin with a likely value of nearly £30,000, Hull Crown Court heard.
Third-strike dealer Matthew Garner, 43, of Irene Grove, west Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply, supplying cocaine, heroin and amphetamine, possessing cocaine and cannabis, possessing a knife and possessing criminal property. He also admitted possessing a knuckle duster as an offensive weapon in a private place, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.
His brother, John Garner, 44, of Great Thornton Street, off Anlaby Road, west Hull, admitted permitting his premises to be used for supplying drugs. Jazmine Lee, prosecuting, said that, on June 23, police stopped a car that was doing 90mph on the M62 motorway in the area of Howden after inquiries revealed that it might be linked to drug supply.
Matthew Garner was the driver. He had white powder in a bag in his trouser pocket. There was wrapped brown powder in the passenger footwell. Garner, a banned driver, had £44.80 cash on him, two cannabis joints and a three-inch knife in a glove box.
His home was searched and more drugs were found as well as a knuckle duster, digital scales and a knife. There were no Class A drugs there.
Police went to his brother’s home on June 24 and a large amount of Class A drugs was found as well as digital scales, a notebook and cash in amounts of £270 and £330. There was a green herbal substance in a tub.
“John Garner knew that Matthew Garner was operating from his property but he didn’t want him to be,” said Miss Lee. “Heroin, amphetamine, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis were all seized from the property.” Judge Alexander Menary said: “Quite a list.”
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The amphetamine alone was valued at between £54,000 and £180,000. The heroin was valued at £29,900 and the cocaine at £280. The total cash seized was £2,470. Matthew Garner had convictions for 76 previous offences, including supplying Class A drugs in 2017, 2018 and 2023.
Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, mitigating, said that Matthew Garner pleaded guilty. “The defendant is thoroughly disgusted with himself for having involved his brother in what he did,” said Miss Kioko-Gilligan. “He is remorseful about that. He has begun to address his drug addiction and is now clear of drugs.
“He is hopeful for the future but is realistic. It saddens him that he now finds himself back in custody.”
Judge Menary told Matthew Garner: “This was not a small-scale operation by any measure. You must have been a very trusted individual to be allowed to have over £200,000 of drugs in your possession.”
Garner was jailed for seven years. He was banned from driving for four-and-a-half years. The £2,470 cash seized will be forfeited and given to the Space2BHeard counselling support group.
At an earlier hearing, John Garner was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, six months’ alcohol treatment and 10 days’ rehabilitation.