St Leonards drug dealer jailed for five years

A 25-year-old man from St Leonards has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of supplying Class A drugs. Ammar Hroub, of London Road, denied being involved in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, but a jury unanimously convicted him following a trial at Lewes Crown Court on 18 December. Police […]

A 25-year-old man from St Leonards has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of supplying Class A drugs.

Ammar Hroub, of London Road, denied being involved in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, but a jury unanimously convicted him following a trial at Lewes Crown Court on 18 December.

Police began investigating during the summer of 2023 after uncovering evidence of a county drugs line operating between Kent and the Hastings and St Leonards area. Officers identified the line number on a drug user’s phone and later obtained CCTV footage showing Hroub topping up the phone in a local shop.

During his arrest and a subsequent search of a BMW linked to him, officers uncovered 71 wraps of crack cocaine, 59 wraps of heroin, and 470 grams of loose heroin, with an estimated value of £1,770. A separate wrap of MDMA and £390 in cash were also found.

Forensic examination showed Hroub’s DNA on drug packaging, and mobile phone analysis revealed that his phone and the drugs line phone travelled together on journeys consistent with restocking drugs.

Hroub was acquitted of possession of criminal property but convicted on all drug supply charges. The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and mobile phones, with the seized cash to be split between charity and Sussex Police.

An investigating officer said the sentence reflects how seriously the courts and police treat the supply of Class A drugs and the harm they cause to local communities.