A cleaning firm boss caught with £300,000-worth of cocaine returned to the drugs trade after business dried up during the pandemic, a court heard.

Wheatley woman Gloria Murray, 61, had almost £11,000 stashed in a casserole pot at her home – as well as another £1,000 in her purse.

Jailing her for six years and giving co-conspirator Lee Colcombe, 47, a four year prison sentence, Recorder John Hardy QC said both had personal qualities that made it difficult to comprehend why they had got involved in the drugs trade.

Prosecutor Sandra Beck told Oxford Crown Court that police officers had watched as Doncaster man Colcombe pulled up outside Murray’s home in Wheatley on May 17 and went in clutching an Asda carrier bag.

A drugs preparation table at Gloria Murrays property near Oxford and, far right, the casserole dish in which the cash was found Picture: TVP

A drugs preparation table at Gloria Murray's property near Oxford and, far right, the casserole dish in which the cash was found Picture: TVP

When the officers raided the property in Farm Close Road, they found the bag contained two blocks of cocaine. One weighed 1.01kg, the other 2.01kg and both were stamped with ‘66’. The drugs had a potential street value of £300,000.

Five minutes later, Murray was pulled over behind the wheel of her Vauxhall Astra. She told the officers she had ‘some bits’ in the vehicle.

Those ‘bits’ turned out to be a 28g wrap, which was analysed and found to contain 2.58g of amphetamine and 20g of caffeine.

In her purse was £1,000 in cash, while £10,980 was found in a cast iron cooking pot on a table that the police claimed was used for preparing drugs.

Murray was given 11 years’ imprisonment in 2010 for her involvement in a plot to supply huge quantities of amphetamine and skunk cannabis.

Gloria Murray and Lee Colcombe, who were jailed for conspiracy to supply cocaine Pictures: TVP

Gloria Murray and Lee Colcombe, who were jailed for conspiracy to supply cocaine Pictures: TVP

Her barrister, Lyall Thompson, said she had been released on licence around five years ago. She had got work in Oxford then set up her own cleaning company and did a business course in Berinsfield.

“She was starting to have an income again and was supporting staff. Then covid struck and the cleaning services was one of those industries that stopped overnight,” he said.

“She puts that forward not as an excuse or justification for her falling back into supplying drugs but as an explanation.”

In a basis of plea, Colcombe said he had been transporting the drugs to pay a debt. He had previously been jailed for dealing. Mitigating, Justin Jarmola said the Yorkshireman had struggled being so far away from his family while on remand.

Murray, of Farm Close Road, Wheatley, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, possession of criminal property and possession of amphetamine. Colcombe, of Mowbray Street, Epworth, near Doncaster, admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Sentencing the pair to a total of 10 years, Recorder Hardy QC said: “You have both been involved before in drug trafficking and you know the risks that you take when you engage in this conduct.

“Each of you have personal qualities which mean members of the public would not associate with people who traffic drugs.

“The existence of those personal qualities, which I accept, make it difficult to comprehend why you do engage in [dealing drugs] but you have chosen to of your own free will and you must pay the price accordingly.”

The drugs and £11,980 cash seized by the police were forfeit.

Drugs (left) and cash found at Gloria Murrays Oxford home Picture: TVP

Drugs (left) and cash found at Gloria Murray's Oxford home Picture: TVP

Welcoming the sentence, PC David Simpkins of Thames Valley Police said: “Murray and Colcombe were involved in a conspiracy together to distribute significant amounts drugs on a wholesale basis between regions.

“Police action has led to a considerable amount of drugs being taken off the streets and has brought two drug dealers to justice.

“Thames Valley Police through Stronghold is committed to catching and bringing drug dealers to justice.

“Drugs cause significant harm within our communities and we will continue to work hard to stop this type of criminality, pursuing those who seek fit to make a profit from it and also protect those who are a victim of it through associated crime and possible exploitation.”

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