Peterborough drug dealing couple sentenced

A couple have been sentenced after a routine police traffic stop in Peterborough resulted in the discovery of a haul of class A drugs.

A silver BMW being driven by Ryan Smith, 28, was stopped by traffic officers in London Road, Fletton, on 1 December 2024, for a random document and drink drive check.

While Smith was under arrest for failing the roadside breath test, his partner, Ericka Clapham, 26, tried to discreetly remove an item from his chest pocket and put it in her hood. However, officers caught her and discovered it was a purse containing MDMA pills.

The pair were arrested for being in possession with intent to supply MDMA, after a total of 662 tablets were found during searches.

Clapham, of Trelowen Way, Hempstead, Peterborough, denied the charge but was found guilty following a trial at Peterborough Crown Court in October.

She appeared at the same court on 8 January, and was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years, and 180 hours of unpaid work.

Smith, of Ringwood, Bretton, Peterborough, pleaded guilty to the drugs offence and being in possession of criminal property, namely £3,765 in cash, and was sentenced to three years in prison at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday (23 January).

The courts also ordered for the £3,765 cash to be donated to:

• £500 to Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service (PCVS)
• £200 each to Cambridge Cyrenians, Cambridge Aid, Cambridge Women’s Aid, Cambridge Community Foundation, and The Red Hen Project
• £225 to the Light Project
• £550 each to Young People’s Counselling Service (YPCS) and Peterborough Women's Aid
• £300 each to Cambridgeshire Recovery Service and The Port
• £340 to The Angels Foundation

Smith was also handed a £250 fine and an 18-month driving ban at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on 2 December 2024 for drink driving.

Detective Constable Joshua Crown, who investigated, said: “This was a great proactive stop by traffic officers which resulted in a substantial amount of class A drugs being removed from the streets.

“Drug dealing can have such a negative impact on the community, and I am glad the money seized is being used to benefit the people of Cambridgeshire.”

Anyone with concerns or information about drugs can report to police online via the dedicated drugs information webpage.