The face of Essex dealer who made ecstascy in his grandmother's shed

A drug dealer, who manufactured ecstasy pills from his grandmother’s shed, has been jailed after a lengthy investigation. Thousands of pounds worth of cocaine, and equipment to make pills were found, after police searched the pensioner’s property.

The Serious Organised Crime Unit had long been building a case against Frankie Lee Watkinson, 31, after intelligence gathered led them to suspect Watkinson was supplying Class A drugs. In January, police had enough evidence to execute a warrant at his grandmother’s home in Thurrock, and found ecstasy pill manufacturing equipment in her shed.

A pill press machine, bags of suspected MDMA, powder-covered gloves and loose pills were discovered, with the pill press machine fully operational and covered in fresh, loose powder. Searching the loft area of the house revealed a small safe that had been secured into the joist beam. Officers were able to open it using a key seized from Watkinson at the time of his arrest. It was then than officers recovered 108g of cocaine, valued at between £4,300 and £8,600.

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While in custody, Watkinson gave his address as a caravan at a site in Clacton. Officers carried out a search of the caravan in question, seizing a suspected drug dealer customer list and 15 mobile phones.

Watkinson denied producing Class A drugs when interviewed. Instead, he said he helped friends with removals and took leftover items to a boot sale, claiming that the equipment found in his grandmother’s shed would be those unsold items.

Although he continued to deny being involved in the supply of cocaine, the clear evidence gathered against him led him to finally admit production of MDMA as well as being concerned in the supply of cocaine. Appearing at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday November 6, he was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

Detective Inspector Yoni Adler, of SOCU, said: “The judge in this case found Watkinson’s exploitation of his grandmother’s property to supply and produce drugs was a clear aggravating factor.

“This case shows the depths to which organised Class A drug dealers will sink to facilitate their harmful trade. He showed little concern for the fallout of his offending on his wider family.

“The reality of ecstasy isn’t glamorous. It is drug dealers like Watkinson, operating out of grubby, makeshift manufacturing labs, who choose what to cut the MDMA with.

“By their own reckless metrics, they decide the potency and authenticity of the pills they create. You can never be sure of what you are taking. It is a very real danger.

“The supply of ecstasy and cocaine also fuels wider offending in Essex and we know our role in stamping out the trade in these substances will help us drive down crime across our county.”