Two men jailed for their part in the supply of cocaine and cannabis across Broxbourne and Hoddesdon

Two men from Cheshunt have been jailed for being concerned in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs.

Lee Barker, aged 41, and of Chadwell Avenue, Cheshunt, and Gary Woolgrove, aged 31, and formerly of Waltham Cross, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Monday 17 August for sentencing after earlier pleading guilty at a hearing in May 2026.

Barker will spend three and a half years in prison after being sentenced for being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis between Friday 1 November 2024 and Thursday 20 November 2025.

Meanwhile, Woolgrove will spend the next two years and 10 months in prison after being sentenced for being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis between Friday 1 November 2024 and Thursday 3 April 2025. He was also sentenced for a harassment offence.

The investigation began on 3 April 2025 when PCSOs observed Barker and Woolgrove in a vehicle in Turnford carrying out a drug deal.

Officers were then called to the scene and stopped the vehicle. They recovered cannabis, weighing scales, and mobile devices. Subsequent searches of Barker's and Woolgrove's homes uncovered cocaine, cannabis and paraphernalia associated with the supply of controlled drugs.

During the investigation, officers recovered cocaine and cannabis with an estimated street value of around £1,800, along with drug-related paraphernalia.

Additional searches were carried out at an address in Hoddesdon linked to drug activity, where officers recovered cannabis, £2,400 in cash and other mobile devices.

Barker was also linked to a separate drug offence after officers stopped and arrested him in November 2025. During the arrest he discarded a package containing cocaine, which investigators later linked to his wider drug-dealing activity through mobile phone evidence.

Detictive Constable Amber Cook, from the East CID based at Hertford Police Station, said: “This positive result for the community has come through proactive patrol work and information provided by members of the public.

“I would also like to recognise the contribution of our local Neighbourhood Policing Team and CID officers. From the PCSOs who first identified suspicious activity, to the police officers and sergeants who carried out enquiries and secured key evidence, and the detectives who progressed the investigation, their actions were instrumental in building the case that led to Barker and Woolgrove being convicted.

“What began as suspicious activity spotted by neighbourhood officers developed into a significant investigation which uncovered evidence of the supply of Class A and Class B drugs.

“This case demonstrates the importance of proactive neighbourhood policing and the value of information provided by our communities. Working together, we were able to remove two drug dealers from our streets and bring them before the courts.

“Drug dealing causes significant harm to our communities, and we remain committed to targeting those involved in the supply of illegal drugs, disrupting criminal activity and keeping Broxbourne and the surrounding areas a safe place to live, work and visit.

“We continue to rely on the public to be our eyes and ears. If you have information about drug dealing in your community, please report it to us so we can act.”

You can report information about a crime online at herts.police.uk/report or speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat, which can be launched here: herts.police.uk/contact. You can also call the non-emergency number 101. If a crime is in progress, call 999.

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Help and support for those with drug addiction: If someone you know has a drug problem, they can get help by contacting Frank on 0800 77 66 00 or visiting www.talktofrank.com.