Colchester drug dealer Michael Devon jailed at Ipswich court

Following 24-year-old Michael Devon’s arrest, police discovered £40,000 had been paid into his business and personal accounts but found no evidence of a cleaning business apart from a couple of bottles of cleaning fluid, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Richard Potts, prosecuting, said there were no reviews about the cleaning business and the only messages found on a phone belonging to Devon, which was linked to the business, related to drugs.

He said Devon was arrested in 2021 during Operation Monaco which was run by police because of a notable increase in the supply of cocaine in Essex and an increase in violence associated with it.

Bogus operation - Michael Devon (Image: Essex Police)

Devon, of Partridge Way, Stanway, Colchester, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine between January and October 2021 and possession of an offensive weapon, namely a knuckleduster which was found next to his bed.

Also before the court was George Gorecki, 30, of Wilford Close, Chelmsford who had denied offering to supply cocaine in August 2021 but was convicted after a trial.

He was jailed for four years.

Sentencing Devon, Richard Conley said: “Your bogus cleaning business was nothing more than a front to enable you to launder the proceeds of your criminal enterprise.”

Jail time - George Gorecki (Image: Essex Police)

After his arrest Gorecki denied sending a message on his phone which appeared to relate to cocaine worth £11,000.

David O'Malley, for Devon, said his client had got involved in the supply of drugs after running up a drug debt.

He said Devon was a different man now to the person who committed the offences.

He said it was impossible to say how much money he had made from drug dealing.

Edward Seller, for Gorecki, said his client had mental health issues for which he was receiving treatment.

The court heard Gorecki still maintained his innocence.