A man was caught with drugs and a knife in Peterborough city centre and later found to be dealing crack cocaine and heroin in Cambridge. Neighbourhood policing officers were on foot patrol around the Embankment area of Peterborough’s city centre on the evening of 28 April last year following reports of drug dealing in the area.
They stopped to speak with a group of young people, one of whom was 20-year-old Aurimas Leonavicius, when he became agitated by their presence and tried to walk away.
The group were searched and Leonavicius was found with a knife, two wraps of cocaine and a small amount of cannabis, resulting in his arrest.
The following day he was released under investigation while further enquiries were carried out, but later charged with being in possession of a knife in a public place and possession of cocaine and cannabis. He was summoned to court on 22 July last year where he was granted court bail.
On 4 September this year, Neighbourhood Support Team officers were in the Cherry Hinton area of Cambridge when they saw what they believed was a drug deal carried out by Leonavicius in Cherry Hinton Hall Park.
He was detained and searched when officers found a small pot concealed within his waistband, containing £660 worth of crack cocaine and £200 worth of heroin, along with £160 in cash.
Leonavicius, of South Parade, West Town, Peterborough, was charged with possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and appeared in court the following day where he admitted the offences and was remanded in prison where he has remained since.
He appeared at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday (17 November) where he was sentenced to one year and ten months in prison after having also admitted being in possession of a knife in a public place, as well as possession of cannabis and cocaine.
Detective Constable Rebecca Neville, who investigated, said: “We know how concerning both knife crime and drug dealing is for our communities, which is why we are working so hard to disrupt those involved and bring them to justice.
“Our neighbourhood teams regularly patrol areas of concern and will engage with those they come across, if there are reasonable grounds to search individuals, this will happen and if drugs or weapons are found, we will gather all available evidence to charge those individuals and put them before the courts.”
Information or concerns about drugs can be passed to police online via the dedicated drugs information webpage.
Leonavicius’ sentence comes as the force highlights its commitment to tackling knife crime this week by taking part in a weapons amnesty which allows people to hand in knives and other prohibited items without being prosecuted.
Information on knife crime, including the penalties, dangers and advice, can be found on the force’s dedicated weapons information webpage.
