A Gloucester drug dealer has been jailed for more than six years after police discovered text messages relating to the sale of heroin and crack cocaine on his mobile phones.
Kevin Daniel, aged 32 and of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to the offences.
The court heard how officers spotted Daniel driving a car in Gloucester in November last year (2024). They had intelligence to suggest that the vehicle was linked to drug supply and that the driver of the vehicle at that time was a man known only as ‘Montana’.
Officers detained Daniel when he left the vehicle and carried out a misuse of drugs search on him.
A drugs wipe was conducted which returned a positive result for cannabis. Daniel was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of drugs.
He was also found to be driving with no valid licence and no insurance.
Once Daniel was in police custody, an officer received intelligence to suggest Daniel was using the alias ‘Montana’ to sell class A drugs in Gloucester. He was further arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.
Two mobile phones he was carrying at the time of his arrest were seized as evidence along with over £200 in cash.
A detailed examination of both phones found bulk messages linking Daniel with a drugs line called ‘Montana’. The messages showed he had offered to supply both heroin and crack cocaine to a large client base between 13 November and 24 November last year (2024).
In police interview, Daniel claimed that only one of the mobile phones belonged to him, and said the other belonged to a friend of his. He denied using that phone, or any phone, to supply drugs.
Daniel was charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and the supply of crack cocaine and he was released on court bail.
After failing to appear at Gloucester Crown Court on two occasions, a judge then issued a warrant for his arrest.
A wanted appeal was issued by Gloucestershire Police andDaniel was re-arrested on 13 April this year (2025) and remanded in custody to await trial.
Investigating officers found further evidence to show Daniel was ‘Montana’ and that he was supplying class A drugs. Daniel then changed his plea to guilty.
On Friday 8 Augusthe was handed a custodial sentence of six years and 65 days and he was also ordered to pay £228 costs.
Investigating officer PC Ridd from the Neighbourhood Support Team said: “Drugs can destroy lives and bring violence and misery to our communities. That is why we work tirelessly to identify individuals like Daniel, who sell these illegal substances.
“By seizing his devices and analysing his text messages it was clear that he was supplying class A drugs to a large number of people.
“I welcome the sentence handed to Daniel and I hope this case provides reassurance to the local community and demonstrates that we are committed to doing all we can to tackle drug-related crime in Gloucestershire.”
If you suspect illegal drug activity is happening or criminals are exploiting someone, report it to the police.
Call 101 or report online at https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/ If anyone is in immediate danger call 999.
If you wish to remain completely anonymous you can use Crimestoppers, an independent charity, by reporting online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ or by calling 0800 555 111.
