Jordan James Daniel Phillips was jailed on 17 May for his involvement in a major operation to supply illegal drugs in Dorset.

Phillips, aged 32, of Brassey Road appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court to be sentenced after being found guilty of conspiring to supply class A drugs following a two-week trial at the same court.

He was sentenced to nine years for the drug offence and a further four months for failing to surrender to bail.

On 31 August 2018 six men were jailed for more than 32 years for offences including conspiring to supply class A and class B drugs following an investigation by Dorset Police’s Serious Organised Crime Team into a group that was suspected of supplying large quantities of class A and class B drugs across the county.

The six men were found to be part of an organised crime network controlling a number of other individuals to orchestrate the distribution of cocaine and cannabis between January 2016 and January 2017.

During the course of the operation just under four kilograms of high purity cocaine was recovered along with more than three kilograms of cannabis. Additionally, dealer lists seized during the operation from the organised crime group showed significant sums of money totaling just over £600,000.

Phillips was arrested in connection with the initial police operation, but prior to answering police bail in June 2017 he fled the country. He took a ferry to France before travelling to the Philippines, where he stayed in a bid to avoid prosecution.

On 30 October last year, Phillips returned to the country via Heathrow Airport, where he was arrested and subsequently charged.

During his trial, the jury heard evidence that he was involved with the network of drug dealers and oversaw safe houses where the drugs were stored by other members of the group.

Detective Sergeant Ian Johnson, of the Serious Organised Crime Team, said: “I hope this sentencing demonstrates that we will do all we can to ensure that offenders such as Jordan Phillips who try to escape the justice system will face the consequences of their criminal activity and we will not let up in our efforts to hold them accountable for their offending.

“This case involved an extensive operation by Dorset Police to disrupt a major drug supply network in the county.

“We are committed to tackling drug gangs operating in Dorset and will continue to do all we can to investigate those involved and bring them to justice, as well as protect vulnerable people who are often coerced into involvement.

“We rely on information sharing with neighbouring police forces and the Regional Organised Crime Unit and are also indebted to members of the public supplying information to help build an intelligence picture and identify those operating in our communities.

“Anyone with information about drug related activity in their area can report it at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101.”