A Norwich man caught with £20,000 in cocaine and cash turned to selling drugs rather than burgers during the Covid pandemic.

Gary Bowgen, 56, was sitting on his sofa with £1,000 in his hands when police raided his home at Dalrymple Way in August 2020.

Officers also discovered more than £8,000 in cash and 455 euros as well as a “wholesale” quantity of cocaine said to have a street value of over £11,000.

Norwich Crown Court heard he had claimed to have started to deal drugs after being unable to operate his takeaway burger van outside a Norwich pub due to the lockdown restrictions in the pandemic.  

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Chris Youell, prosecuting, said police had discovered quantities of cocaine wrapped in bags hidden inside a motorcycle helmet.  

Officers also found equipment including scales and plastic bags linked to the onward supply of drugs, as well as a “dealer list”.

A thumbprint matching Bowgen’s was also found on the inside of a tub containing cocaine.

A quantity of jewellery, fake Rolex watches, and one genuine gold Rolex with an estimated value of up to £22,000 were also recovered.

Bowgen pleaded guilty to possession of a class A drug with intent to supply, and possession of criminal property.

Bowgen was sentenced at Norwich Crown CourtBowgen was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

The court was told he had an extensive list of previous convictions and jail sentences from the 1990s and early 2000s but had been largely out of trouble for 20 years. 

Recorder John Hardy jailed him for two years telling him he accepted he had previously become a family man with a legitimate business. 

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He also said he had reduced the potential sentence by six months due to the almost four years it had taken to bring the case which “is a form of punishment in itself”.

Jonathan Goodman, mitigating, said his offences had been partly because he had developed a cocaine habit and due to the impact of his burger business.

“This is not someone who is a recidivist drug dealer. This was a blip in his life and not a career choice,” he added. 

The court heard prosecutors plan proceeds of crime proceedings to seize any criminally obtained money and assets.