A 36-year-old man from Nottingham was taken into custody wearing only his boxer shorts after scaling down from a first-floor window, while his accomplice was simultaneously attempting to destroy evidence by attempting to flush a large quantity of drugs down a bathroom toilet.

Andre McGowan was apprehended following the execution of multiple warrants in February 2023, including at his residence on Belconnen Road in Bestwood, as part of an inquiry into heroin and crack cocaine distribution throughout Nottingham.

During this time, officers were also carrying out a warrant at a property on Norton Street in Radford, where McGowan’s criminal partner Shabezz Wheeler-Spink, 30, was present.

As authorities gained entry, Wheeler-Spink attempted to eliminate evidence by pushing two plastic bags containing 104 grams of heroin into an upstairs toilet, resulting instead in significant water damage to the bathroom.

The drug enterprise was primarily managed by McGowan, with Wheeler-Spink responsible for delivering substances to customers in areas including Woodthorpe, Bulwell and Forest Fields.

When McGowan travelled abroad to destinations like Dubai and Turkey using his criminal proceeds, Wheeler-Spink assumed control of the operation.

Among items recovered from McGowan’s flat were substantial quantities of controlled substances and currency, alongside a metal press utilized for preparing and compressing drugs.

An Aldi carrier bag discarded by McGowan during his attempt to evade police was also recovered from a garden, containing heroin and crack cocaine with an estimated street value reaching £35,000.

Authorities additionally seized assets belonging to McGowan comprising £28,186 in cryptocurrency and bank holdings.

Items found at the Radford location included the substantial heroin quantity Wheeler-Spink attempted to dispose of, along with two lock knives, a dagger and a sheathed knife.

Almost £12,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis was also confiscated.

Following the police investigation, both men admitted involvement in supplying Class A drugs. Wheeler-Spink additionally acknowledged possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

On March 30, McGowan, who had operated the network for six years, received a 12-year prison sentence. Wheeler-Spink, from Fenton Road in Basford, was sentenced to three years for his six-month involvement.