Oldham pair jailed for £330,000 drugs lab

Date published: 20 February 2019


A man who turned his friend’s house into a drugs lab where more than £300,000 of amphetamine was found has been jailed. 

53-year old Brian Norton, of Delph Lane, Delph, used the home of Lesley Roberts, 57, on Brunswick Street, Shaw to make and cut drugs. 

At Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday 18 February, Norton was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of class B drugs. 

Roberts was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of class B drugs. 

The pair were brought down by Operation Arcadia – a surveillance-led investigation into the production and supply of controlled drugs in the Oldham area. 

Norton was observed between October and November 2018. During this time Norton was seen entering Roberts’ property on Brunswick Street, Oldham on multiple occasions. 

Police raided the house and found a large quantity of amphetamine in a chest freezer, as well as a large amount of the drug on the kitchen worktop that Norton was in the process of cutting into smaller deals for onward. 

There was also a large amount of drugs paraphernalia including snap bags and weighing scales. 

Both Norton and Roberts were arrested. 

Roberts admitted that she’d agreed that Norton could use her address to cut up drugs and in return he would pay her £100 per week. 

Upon his arrest, Norton said he was ‘bang to rights’ and admitted the drugs found were all his. 

In total, the drugs seized were valued at £330,000. 

Detective Constable Michelle Lomax from Oldham Organised Crime Team said: “Norton used his friend to provide a safe house his drugs enterprise, and she in-turn knew exactly what was going on inside the property.

“For £100 a week she allowed her home to become a drugs lab, where a significant drug dealing enterprise was operating from.

“Thanks to the hard work of our officers, we have dismantled this operation and seized a large quantity of narcotics.

“The best weapon we have against drug dealers is the wider community, on whom we rely to help us catch and prosecute those who seek to profit from the sale of drugs.  

“If you suspect that drugs are being dealt in your neighbourhood, or you suspect a young person is being exploited, contact police on 101 immediately.”