West Norwood drug dealer Joel Henry jailed for seven years

Joel Henry, 40, was arrested in St Leonards on November 8 last year where he was carrying a burner-style phone. 

Data showed that each day he had been travelling from his home on Lakeview Road in West Norwood to Hastings to deal crack cocaine and heroin.   

He had used the phone to send bulk messages advertising drugs. 

Henry denied being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, but a jury at Chichester Crown Court found him guilty. 

On Thursday, April 25, he was jailed for seven years. 

Joel Henry (Image: Sussex Police)Investigator Julian Stokes said: “This was another successful joint investigation to take a drug dealer pedalling dangerous Class A drugs off the streets of Hastings and St Leonards by Op Orochi officers from the Metropolitan Police, Sussex Police and Surrey Police Op Centurion, and officers from Project ADDER based in Hastings. 

“Henry already had two previous convictions for the supply of Class A drugs and therefore this third conviction meant that a mandatory seven years’ imprisonment was handed down to him. 

“We will continue to identify County Lines and those dealing these dangerous Class A drugs within our community and stop them. The sentencing of Henry demonstrates how serious the courts deal with those pedalling Class A on our streets.”