Cocaine dealer identified by distinctive tattoo jailed for 13 years
Northumbria Police said Dean Matthews, 46, of Lawrence Avenue, South Shields, South Tyneside, communicated via an encrypted mobile phone to co-ordinate Class A drug deals across the North East of England.
Their investigations found that he had a major role in supplying cocaine in the South Tyneside, Sunderland and Durham areas between March and May 2020.
The force said officers also linked Matthews to the offences by a distinctive tattoo of the word 'ouch!' on his foot which he sent a picture of via messages on the encrypted device.
Northumbria Police said he was jailed last week for 13 years after 22kg of drugs valued at £803,000 were recovered.
After the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Marc Michael of Northumbria Police said: 'This is yet another superb outcome for our communities.
'Matthews was a prominent member of an organised criminal network, and I am pleased that the tireless work of our officers has resulted in a significant period of imprisonment for him.
'We have zero tolerance for those involved in organised crime and the supply of cocaine in our force area.'
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