A man has been jailed for dealing Class A drugs after being caught by undercover officers in the early hours in Scarborough.
Ethan Wells, 23, of Kingdom Avenue, Coventry, was jailed yesterday for four years and two months for being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. His accomplice, a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was handed a Youth Referral Order after being found with a knife.
In the early hours of 27 December last year, two plain-clothed detectives were alerted by members of the public to two males acting suspiciously on Huntriss Row, Scarborough, with one of the individuals believed to be in possession of a knife.
The detectives swiftly identified themselves as police officers, prompting the 17-year-old to flee. However, our officers were hot on his heels and quickly detained him. A stop and search revealed he was carrying a nine-inch knife, and he was arrested.
Wells, who had been with the teenager, also attempted to flee when he spotted our uniformed officers arrive to assist. He was quickly stopped, and following a search, officers found a small burner phone and £974 cash on him.
Wells, who was already serving a suspended sentence for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
Subsequent analysis by the Digital Forensics Unit uncovered significant evidence on the seized phone, including broadcast messages advertising the sale of heroin and crack cocaine.
CCTV footage also showed Wells purchasing the SIM card linked to the phone, further connecting him to the device. Additional footage captured him in Scarborough exchanging items for cash in suspected drug deals.
A distinctive rucksack seen in the footage was later recovered next to a refuse skip on Merchants Row, along with a two-toned jacket matching the one Wells was seen wearing. Inside the jacket, officers found a set of digital weighing scales, cannabis, and a phone top-up receipt that matched the burner phone.
Wells gave no comment during police interviews but later pleaded guilty in court to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, crack cocaine and heroin, and failing to surrender to court and was jailed at Warwick Crown Court on 10 November.
He was also jailed for an unrelated criminal damage in West Midlands in January 2025.
The 17-year-old male pleaded guilty at Scarborough Youth Magistrates’ Court to possession of a bladed article and obstructing police. He received a Youth Referral Order, was ordered to pay £85 in costs to the CPS, and a £26 victim surcharge.
Following sentencing, Detective Constable Alfie Thomlinson of North Yorkshire Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Scarborough, said:
“This is a great example of how a small report from the public, about a man with a knife, led to the uncovering of two individuals who had travelled to North Yorkshire to deal drugs. I’d like to thank the members of the public who brought this to our attention.
“We know the devastating impact that Class A drugs have on individuals, families, and communities, which is why we continue to proactively target those who deal them. There’s a misconception that drug dealing is a victimless crime. In reality, it fuels violence, exploitation, and addiction.
“Wells showed a blatant disregard for the law and his suspended sentence, travelling from the West Midlands to exploit vulnerable people in our county. He thought he could get away with it. but he was wrong. We will continue to tackle county lines and pursue those who bring drugs into North Yorkshire to make our communities safer.”
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