Alleged drug dealer said to have large knife by Worcester Racecourse

Robert Leeds is accused of being a street level dealer in Worcester for the Blue Line, a County Lines operation which used the Premier Inn in the city's New Road as a base for supplying class A drugs.

His fingerprints were said to have been found on the handle of a large 'Bowie-style knife' recovered from a bag but the defendant denies knowing the blade was there.

The 30-year-old's trial got underway at Worcester Crown Court on Monday. He denies five counts: being concerned in the supply of heroin between September 18, 2019 and October 5, 2018; being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine between the same dates; having an article with a blade or point on September 19, 2018; possession of heroin with intent to supply on September 29, 2018; and possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply, also on September 29, 2018.

Cathlyn Orchard, prosecuting, opened the case to the jury, describing how Leeds was in the company of others, including convicted dealer Michael Duffy at the riverside path near Grandstand Road in Worcester.

"This is an area well known to police as a hotspot for drug supply" said Mrs Orchard.

Several users were seen to approach and walk off quickly, the prosecution case being that dealing was taking place. When officers approached, Duffy was seen to throw a package into the river.

The package was subsequently recovered and found to contain 26 street deals of heroin at £10 each and 60 wraps of crack cocaine. The court heard that Duffy had already pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply the class A drugs. A black Alcatel phone was said to have been recovered from Leeds. 'A large volume of calls' and texts were said to have taken place between that phone and the main Blue Line phone. One message on the phone recovered from Leeds, sent to the operator of the Blue Line, read: "Is it defo tonight or should we lock off?"

The prosecution case is that this was slang from Leeds for 'shutting down' or turning off the phone after dealing. When officers asked the group whose grey rucksack it was, Mrs Orchard said nobody present, including Leeds, would claim ownership. Inside was found 'a large knife'.

"The defendant's fingerprints were recovered from that knife" said Mrs Orchard. She added: "He says he was not in possession of the knife. He did not know the knife was in the bag at all."

Mrs Orchard went on to describe a further incident on September 29, 2018 when Leeds entered the Premier Inn in New Road in Worcester. A manager reported seeing Leeds walking quickly through reception carrying an orange Sainsbury's carrier bag before entering a disabled toilet. She then heard the sound of coins on a hard surface.

Police were called and the defendant was said to have been observed in a dark corner of the car park where he met 'a drug user'. When Leeds was challenged by police he was said to have become 'evasive' and was found in possession of a Nokia phone and 'trying to conceal something he had placed down his trousers'.

Police recovered four street deals of heroin and six of crack cocaine. Officers also recovered a bag containing £900 in cash - notes and coins.

"That's an amount of money consistent with somebody being actively involved in street dealing" said Mrs Orchard.

A further incident occurred on October 4, 2018 when a group of known drug users were observed gathered in Henwick Road, St John's. The defendant was detained and searched in a churchyard off Henwick Road. An Alcatel phone, described as 'constantly ringing', was seized. Officers also seized £183 in cash, half in a bumbag and half in his jacket pocket.

On November 4, 2018 officers recovered a large quantity of crack cocaine and heroin from the Premier Inn in New Road, £557 in cash and a mobile phone. The prosecution say this was the Blue Line phone itself. Leeds of Ipstones Avenue, Stechford denies the phones were his and claims he was a user who had been supplied the drugs rather than supplying to others.

The trial continues.