Conspiracy To Supply Drugs Defence

How our conspiracy to supply solicitors can help you

At Stephen Rimmer, our criminal defence team have substantial experience in handling conspiracy to supply drugs cases. When instructed, our team will provide immediate support, ensuring that you have all the advice and information you need to build the strongest possible defence against any allegations you may be facing.

In every case, our solicitors will take the time to assess whether the authorities have complied with all the relevant rules and whether there is a possibility for the case against you to be dropped altogether due to any procedural irregularities.

When building your defence case against allegations of conspiracy to supply, we will hold the prosecution to the highest standards of proof, doing all we can to ensure that your interests remain protected. We provide a comprehensive range of services for conspiracy to supply cases, as well as a range of other offences that fall under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 including:

• Representing you during interviews under caution
• Advising on the strength or weakness of the case against you
• Discussing possible mitigating factors
• Discussing your intended plea

Our solicitors are able to provide 24-hour police station representation for conspiracy to supply cases. Our duty solicitors and police station lawyers offer free legal advice at the police station of you are being held, as well as at any court proceedings that take place.

Stephen Rimmer LLP is one of the few law firms based in East Sussex which is authorised by the Legal Aid Agency to carry out Prison Law work.

As a firm, we have been recognised for our criminal law expertise by the Law Society’s Criminal Litigation accreditation.

For more information, see the remainder of our criminal defence services.

Get in touch with our conspiracy to supply solicitors in Eastbourne and Hastings

For immediate expert advice on conspiracy to supply offences, please use the contact details below to get in touch:

• Daytime phone number: 01323 644222
• Out of hours phone number: 07724 350521
• Email: enquiries@stephenrimmer.com
• Or pay us a visit at 28 – 30 Hyde Gardens Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 4PX

Our conspiracy to supply expertise

Representing you during interviews under caution

After being arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply drugs, it is essential that you instruct expert legal representation for any interviews that take place. In these situations, we provide expert defence, providing a robust service that ensures your rights are upheld. With the support of our team, you will have a clear understanding of what to expect and how best to deal with the allegations you are facing.

Advising on the strength or weakness of the case against you

If you have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply drugs, the police are likely to have developed against you and have gathered evidence in order to support their case. As such, our team will take the necessary measures to assess the strength or weakness of the case against you, so you have an honest appraisal of the situation. This will allow us to decide on the best strategy for your defence.

Discussing possible mitigating factors

In some cases, there may be a range of mitigating factors which could be used to reduce the sentence handed out for conspiracy to supply if you are found guilty.

These vary depending on the individual circumstances of the case, but are likely to include:

• Age, for example, the court may feel that a young person is less responsible
• Previous good character
• Co-operation with the authorities
• Genuine remorse
• Disability or mental illness

We will run through your circumstances and whether any of these mitigating factors are likely to apply in your case.

Discussing your intended plea

In some cases, pleading guilty to an accusation of conspiracy to supply drugs may result in a lesser sentence. It should be noted, however, that the later a guilty plea is made, the smaller a reduction in the sentence handed out is likely to be.

Our solicitors can discuss your situation in detail, with reference to the strength of the case that has been built against you. This can help to ensure that you have all the information you need to make the right decision when it comes to your intended plea.

Our conspiracy to supply fees

Legal aid for conspiracy to supply offences

Our solicitors can attend the police station with you in response to a charge of conspiracy to supply drugs. The cost of this can be covered by legal aid. You may also be entitled to legal aid for any subsequent defence work.

We can advise you on your eligibility to receive legal aid during any initial consultations.

Privately funded defence for conspiracy to supply

Our legal defence work for conspiracy to supply drugs can also be funded on a private basis.

Conspiracy to supply FAQs

What is a conspiracy?

Conspiracy to supply drugs is a serious criminal offence. In this context, a ‘conspiracy’ involves a plan or agreement made by two or more people to carry out a criminal offence. This means that conspiracy to supply drugs is likely to relate to any behaviour that contributes or would contribute to the supply of drugs of any class.

For a conspiracy charge to be brought forward, the actions themselves do not need to be directly criminal. Instead, they need to contribute to a plan that would result in a crime being committed. Driving a car is, of course, not a criminal offence, but driving a car to pick up a shipment of drugs could result in a conspiracy charge being brought forward.

You also do not need to have directly taken part in criminal activity to be charged with conspiracy to supply. The prosecution simply needs to prove that you were involved in the planning in some way.

What is supply?

‘Supply’ involves the process of passing possession of controlled drugs from one person or group to another. This can be as simple as one person giving a small number of drugs to another for personal use. There does not need to be any type of commercial element.

Supply can also include distribution within a chain, with each transfer between individuals being classed as its own act of supply.

How does conspiracy to supply differ from possession with intent to supply?

There is often some understandable confusion concerning the difference between conspiracy to supply and possession with intent to supply.

Possession with intent to supply is a criminal offence where the following applies:

• You were in possession of illegal or controlled drugs; and
• You intended to supply these drugs to someone else

Physical evidence that you were in possession of drugs and had plans to pass them on to another person is required for this charge, as opposed to conspiracy charges.

How is conspiracy to supply proven?

Because conspiracy to supply involves any actions that contribute to a supply offence being carried out, a defendant does not need to have had drugs on their person to be convicted.

Conspiracy to supply can be proven through evidence such as:

• The presence of the controlled drugs
• The presence of drug paraphernalia
• CCTV evidence
• Significant and unexplained amount of drugs
• Witness statements
• Evidence of an extravagant lifestyle

What is a controlled drug?

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, controlled drugs are described as any substances that are illegal to produce, use or supply.

Controlled drugs are categorised according to how dangerous they are and the impact they have on society. The three categories are:

• Class A drugs
• Class B drugs
• Class C drugs

A non-exhaustive of controlled drugs is available to view on the Government website.

What is the average sentence for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs?

Class A drugs include:

• Crack cocaine
• Cocaine
• Ecstasy (MDMA)
• Heroin
• LSD
• Magic mushrooms
• Methadone
• Methamphetamine (crystal meth)

Conspiracy to supply class A drugs carry the most serious penalties for anyone that is convicted. The exact sentence you receive will depend on various factors, including whether you submit a guilty plea and whether the case is heard in the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court.

If the case is heard in the Magistrates’ Court, the maximum potential sentence you could receive for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs is either or both:

• A fine of up to £5,000
• Up to 6 months’ imprisonment

If the case is heard in the Crown Court, the maximum potential sentence you could receive is either or both:

• An unlimited fine
• A prison sentence up to and including life imprisonment

What is the average sentence for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs?

Class B drugs include:

• Amphetamines
• Barbiturates
• Cannabis
• Codeine
• Ketamine
• Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
• Synthetic cannabinoids
• Synthetic cathinones (e.g. mephedrone)

The sentence for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs will depend on various factors, including whether you submit a guilty plea and whether the case is heard in the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court.

If the case is heard in the Magistrates’ Court, the maximum sentence for conspiracy to supply class B drugs can include either or both:

• A fine of up to £5,000
• Up to 6 months’ imprisonment

If the case is heard in the Crown Court, the maximum sentence for conspiracy to supply class B drugs can include either or both:

• An unlimited fine
• Up to 10 years’ imprisonment

What is the average sentence for conspiracy to supply cannabis?

As cannabis is defined as a Class B drug, the sentence that could be handed out would following the guidelines set out above.

What is the average sentence for conspiracy to supply Class C drugs?

Class C drugs include:

• Anabolic steroids
• Benzodiazepines (diazepam)
• Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
• Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)
• Piperazines (BZP)
• Khat​

The sentence for conspiracy to supply Class C drugs will depend on various factors, including whether you submit a guilty plea and whether the case is heard in the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court.

If the case is heard in the Magistrates’ Court the maximum sentence for conspiracy to supply class C drugs can include either or both:

• A fine of up to £5,000
• Up to 6 months’ imprisonment

In Crown Court, the maximum sentence for conspiracy to supply class C drugs can include either or both:

• An unlimited fine
• Up to 8 years’ imprisonment

What type of crime is county lines?

‘County lines’ refers to instances where illegal drugs are transported from one area of the country to another, often across local authority boundaries. The drugs are usually transported by children or vulnerable people who are coerced by gangs.

The mobile phone line used to organise the distribution of drugs is the so-called ‘County Line’.

Get in touch for 24/7 conspiracy to supply representation

Our criminal defence lawyers have a high level of expertise in criminal defence for drugs offences. If you have been charged with conspiracy to supply drugs, call us today and we will give you the support and representation you need.

Based in offices in Eastbourne and Hastings, our criminal defence solicitors support clients all across East Sussex, including in Bexhill-on-Sea, Hailsham, Polegate, Battle, Pevensey and St Leonards-on-Sea.

For immediate expert conspiracy to supply advice and representation, please use the contact details below to get in touch:

• Daytime phone number: 01323 644222
• Out of hours phone number: 07724 350521
• Email: enquiries@stephenrimmer.com
• Or pay us a visit at 28 – 30 Hyde Gardens Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 4PX