A smashed burger boss has been jailed for 10 years after he admitted having a block of cocaine worth about £100,000.
Leon Peace, 55, was found to have almost 1.1kg – more than 2lb – of cocaine and just under 2kg of cannabis as well as a firearm and ammunition, a knife and a spike.
Sussex Police said: “A drug dealer who was found in possession of wholesale amounts of class A and B drugs has been jailed.
“Leon Peace provided cocaine and cannabis to drug dealers in West Sussex.
“Officers from the Tactical Enforcement Unit and Community Investigation Team investigated Peace and found him in possession of more than 1kg of cocaine and nearly 2kg of cannabis.
“The estimated street value of the block of cocaine was £100,000.
“Officers also found Peace, 55, of Anson Road, Aldwick, in possession of a handgun, a knife and a spike.
“The court was told how Peace was linked to drug dealing across West Sussex as a wholesale supplier of cocaine and cannabis.
“He was arrested in June this year and further searches of addresses linked to him found the block of cocaine, thousands of pounds in cash and a large wholesale cannabis bag.”
Peace admitted having cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply at a court hearing last month.
He also admitted having a knife, an offensive weapon and a firearm and ammunition without a valid certificate as well as acquiring, using or possessing criminal property.
He was jailed by Judge Stephen Mooney at Lewes Crown Court last Wednesday (12 August).
According to Companies House records, Peace was the director of a plumbing firm, WaterSafe Plumbing, and a used car business, Peace Holdings, and had been a director of Smash Burger Kitchen, in Durban Road, in South Bersted, Bognor.
Detective Superintendent Colin Garman said: “Leon Peace acted as an upstream supplier to drug dealers operating in West Sussex. He was found in possession of potentially dangerous weapons.
“This case demonstrates our determination to disrupt the supply of drugs which cause so much harm in our communities and to catch the organised criminals who bring associated crime, anti-social behaviour and violence on to our streets.
“Peace was a significant player in this drugs operation. Thanks to officers from our Community Investigations Team, we have taken out a drug supply network with offenders now serving significant prison sentences.”
