A drug dealer who posed as a key worker to ship millions of pounds worth of cocaine tried to argue £90,000 worth of cash belonged to him legitimately - despite being found stashed under his floorboards by police. The huge sum of money was discovered at the Bilborough property of Stephan Lees Rowe, who took part in an international operation, collecting the drugs coming in from around Europe and distributing them around the UK.
Lees Row underwent the operation with Matthew Whorlow, of Strelley, who was a highways worker - this was to provide cover when national Covid restrictions threatened to strangle his operation. Between March and June 2020 regional detectives established that the pair had supplied cocaine with a street value of more than £4.5million to organised criminal gangs in Nottinghamshire, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.
Nottingham Magistrates' Court was told on Wednesday, March 30, that police entered Lees Rowe's address back in the summer of 2020. He escaped via a window but injured himself and was later caught by a police dog. The court was told: "He answered no comment to all questions from police. He recently has been convicted for conspiracy to import or supply Class A drugs and converting criminal property. He played a leading role in these offences and was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment."
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Appearing at Harrow Crown Court on Friday, March 25, Lees Rowe, of Springhead Court, was jailed for 13 years and two months. Whorlow, 40, of Goldham Road was jailed at an earlier hearing for ten years and nine months.
Along with the £90,685 found underneath the floorboards at the property, police also found large quantities of cocaine. At the Magistrates' Court, an application was made for all of this cash to be forfeited and for Lees Rowe to pay costs of £400 to Leicestershire Police.
Appearing via video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs in London, Lees Rowe told the court: "It was from 18 years ago. That money was mine, nobody else's and it was not through drugs. I don't understand anything the prosecution is going on about. But I will accept any charge that you give me."
Seizing the cash, Magistrates told Lees Rowe on March 30: "We are satisfied that the cash was unlawfully gained - the cash was found with the drugs."
Detective Inspector Mark Adas, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “It goes without saying that most drug dealers prefer to operate in the shadows – keeping a low profile doing all they can to avoid drawing attention to themselves. However, Lees and Whorlow adopted the very bold approach of operating in plain sight and driving around openly in a very distinctive vehicle.
“It was clear that they saw this approach as a way to blend-in during lock-down, when far fewer cars were on the road and tight restrictions were placed on individuals’ freedoms. As most people remained at home and thousands of others lost their lives, Lees and Whorlow used the pandemic as an opportunity to commit very serious criminal acts.
“I am delighted that they have now been brought to justice and that a very significant quantity of drugs have been taken off the streets.”
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