A man has been sentenced to prison after police recovered what they described as a significant amount of illegal drugs during a search of a home in Stoke-on-Trent.
Search in Bentilee leads to custody and conviction
Officers from the Staffordshire Police Major and Organised Crime Team carried out a warrant at a property in Bentilee on Thursday 13 November last year. During the search they found an estimated £66,500 worth of controlled drugs, identified as cocaine, MDMA and cannabis, together with approximately £2,000 in cash.
The suspect, Kevin Gordon Hunter, aged 59 and from Bucknall, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. He was taken into custody, where he initially declined to answer police questions. When presented with the evidence in court, he later admitted the offences.
"We're working tirelessly across Staffordshire every single day to act against those involved in organised crime. Drug dealing can be a pathway for exploitation and can cause significant harm to vulnerable people in our communities. I'm pleased we were able to recover such a large amount of drugs in this operation and take them off our streets."
— Major and Organised Crime Superintendent Victoria Downing
Sentence and local impact
Hunter was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday 28 July to five years and three months in prison. The result follows the court process in which the defendant changed his position after being shown the prosecution evidence.
The seizure and subsequent conviction underline the efforts by specialist police teams to target supply, not just street-level possession, and to disrupt networks that bring Class A and B drugs into communities across the county.
Seizure at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location of search | Bentilee |
| Date of search | 13 November (year of operation) |
| Drugs recovered | Cocaine, MDMA and cannabis |
| Estimated value | £66,500 |
| Cash recovered | Approximately £2,000 |
| Defendant | Kevin Gordon Hunter, 59, of Bucknall |
| Sentence | 5 years 3 months (Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, 28 July) |
What this means for residents
Police statements accompanying the outcome emphasise the broader harms associated with drug supply. Officers highlight concerns about exploitation and the risk posed to vulnerable people in communities where dealing occurs. The Major and Organised Crime Team said the operation removed a substantial quantity of drugs from the local supply chain.
- Specialist policing teams continue to target organised supply across Staffordshire.
- Local residents can report suspicious activity to Staffordshire Police via their website or by calling the non-emergency number.
- Confidential reporting options such as Crimestoppers remain available.
The sentence marks the conclusion of this particular investigation but also serves as a reminder of ongoing enforcement work aimed at protecting neighbourhoods from the harms associated with illegal drugs.
