Jail for four Swindon drug dealers

The probe began after class A drugs were found in a vehicle in a pub car park.

On June 25, 2020 officers found a vehicle parked up in The Crumpled Horn car park, and four people were seen to leave it unattended.

Inside the vehicle, officers discovered a large amount of cocaine and cannabis, more than £1,700 cash and a hunting knife. Forensic enquiries were carried out which linked the items to Matthew Bean, 23, of Eastmere, Swindon, and Theodore Voulgaris, 25, of Cloche Way, Swindon.

An investigation began, and on July 16, 2021, a series of warrants were executed by officers from the Fortitude team, Neighbourhood and Community Policing Teams targeting the organised crime and drug supply in the Eldene area.

During the operation, one of which was at an address in Stubsmead, a drugs line phone was seized with extensive messages linked to the sale of cocaine and cannabis to local drug users. 

Wraps of crack cocaine, heroin, cocaine and cannabis were found throughout the house, and April Palfrey, 44, and Carl Kavanagh, 39, of Stubsmead were located inside. Kavanagh was arrested, Palfrey was invited in for interview and both were later charged after they were found to be dealing from the address.

Further enquiries were carried out and officers discovered Voulgaris was directing both Kavanagh and Palfrey to deal drugs on his behalf and paying them cash for their work.

A further warrant was executed at Voulgaris’ address in the Coleview area in September 2021 and £1,531 in cash was found, along with cannabis and a knuckle duster.

Voulgaris was sentenced to five years and 10 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A x 2 and class B x 2.

Kavanagh was sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A, being concerned in the supply of class B, possessing criminal property and possession of a prohibited weapon.

On a previous date, Bean was given a 22 month prison sentence suspended for two years after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of class B and Palfrey was given a three year community order after pleading guilty to being concerned in supply of class A and B.

Fortitude Investigator James Purcell said: “Voulgaris and Kavanagh were the key players in this particular drugs line, directing others to deal drugs on their behalf in a bid to conceal the true scale of their offending and the significant harm they were causing within our communities.

“Through extensive enquiries and exhaustive phone enquiries, officers have been able to identify them as the ring leaders and Bean and Palfrey as the middle players and subsequently put them all before the courts for them to be sentenced for the roles they each played in drug supply in Swindon.”

 As well as the custodial sentences, the court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of all drugs, drug paraphernalia, phones and weapons seized during the investigation.

Fortitude Investigator Purcell said: “The Fortitude team will continue to proactively seek out and take positive action against drug dealers who try to establish themselves as the 'directors' of drugs lines in our county, causing significant harm to vulnerable people in society. We will work hard to protect these individuals and create safer public spaces for all.”