Jail for Sutton dealers who ran lucrative drug line into town
Gang members who ran a 'lucrative and busy' drug line into Sutton have been locked up.
Investigations by Nottinghamhire Police’s county lines team revealed the line became active in June 2025 and bulk marketing messages advertising the sale of cocaine, heroin and cannabis were sent out in the Ashfield area.
Between June and August 2025 alone, 8,000 messages were delivered to drug users via the line, which was run by Dondi Boddice, Lewis Caunt, Jake Hardy and Deshon Lindsay.
A number of raids on properties connected with the group during 2025 and 2026 allowed police to seize thousands of pounds worth of drugs, as well as weapons and criminal cash.
One warrant was executed at Hardy's home in New Hucknall Waye, Huthwaite, on November 15 last year.
Large amounts of cannabis, high-value jewellery and an air rifle were among the items seized.
During a further raid, at Lindsay's home in Willow Crescent, Sutton, on February 9 this year, wraps of class A drugs, further cannabis and weapons including knives, an imitation firearm and a knuckle duster were found.
Also present was Caunt, who was arrested after refusing to leave the property for four hours.
Among the mobile phones recovered was one holding the drug line number while evidence of drug dealing was found when other handsets were analysed.
Boddice had possession of the drugs line and was also aware of the wider conspiracy.
When police executed a warrant at a property in Eckington Walk, Mansfield, he was located with a selection of drugs, including crack cocaine, heroin, amphetamines and cannabis, with a total value of £7,640.
Caunt also committed a further serious offence when a shopworker was punched in the face repeatedly and robbed on February 5 this year.
The member of staff, at a store in Forest Road, Sutton, had told Caunt and another man that only one person could be inside the shop at one time moments before Caunt set upon him.
While the assault took place, the other man, who will be dealt with separately, took the opportunity to grab bottles of alcohol and fled.
Class A drugs, a knuckleduster and criminal cash were all seized in raids
When neighbourhood officers returned to Willow Crescent in March to enforce a closure order on the property, they recovered further drugs, phones and an axe, and arrested Boddice and Lindsay.
At Nottingham Crown Court on July 10, the four men were in the dock and each received a prison sentence.
Hardy, aged 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess class A drugs with intent to supply, conspiracy to supply class B drugs, possession of a firearm when prohibited for life and possession of criminal property and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years' jail.
Boddice, aged 23, of The Oval, Sutton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess class A drugs with intent to supply and conspiracy to supply class B drugs and was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail.
Caunt, aged 23, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess class A drugs with intent to supply, conspiracy to supply class B drugs and robbery and was jailed for six years and three months.
Lindsay, aged 20, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess class A drugs with intent to supply and conspiracy to supply class B drugs and also admitted criminal damage of a police car following his arrest and was locked up for three years and four months.
PC Jack Shephard, of Nottinghamshire Police's county lines team, said: "This lucrative and busy drug line was a significant enterprise involving thousands of sales messages sent out to vulnerable people.
"As our investigation progressed, we carried out a series of raids, which led to the seizure of drugs, cash, and criminal property.
"It was also no surprise to find weapons during the searches as we know this type of conspiracy goes hand-in-hand with weapon-enabled threats and violence.
"Shutting down drug lines involves hours of police work, but we have dedicated officers investigating them because of the impact this criminality has on communities."