Prolific London drug dealer tried tricking police that GBL found in raid was cleaning product

A drug dealer was caught after residents living around Charing Cross and Soho became so fed up with the issues he caused that police carried out two raids. Grant Lock, 44, has been jailed for seven and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to 15 drug related offences, including possession with intent to supply ketamine, MDMA, cocaine and GBL

Lock, 44, was first arrested due to concerns raised around the level of drug dealing in Charing Cross. Police identified Lock as a suspect and raided his home in Villiers Street. Inside they found large quantities of drugs but Lock tried to claim that the GBL found, amongst numerous other drugs, was a cleaning product – rather than a drug commonly used for spiking drinks and in the chemsex scene.

Lock was arrested a second time after officers were told of residents’ concerns that drugs were being sold from a second flat in Newburgh Street, Soho in May 2020. Officers discovered that Lock was at the property and forced their way in after he refused them entry.

READ MORE: M25 drug driver who crashed killing 2 friends 'robbed families of their sons'

READ MORE: East London dog owner banned after letting pet starve to death tied to a tree

Once inside, they then arrested Lock for possession with intent to supply after more drugs were found. Across both arrests, officers seized a bounty of drugs including 18 grams of cocaine, 235 doses of LSD, 296 MDMA pills, 241 packets of methylamphetamine, 36 packets of ketamine and 11 litres of GBL.

Lock had notebooks full of records of who he sold to

Detective Contable Nigel Pacquette, who led the investigation, said: “Lock was a prolific drug dealer who had no regard of the law. He was found to be dealing a wide range of drugs, and even had notebooks full of records of who he had sold to and whether they had paid.

“This result was only possible thanks to the close cooperation between local communities and the police. When people tell us they are concerned, we will act, combining specialist intelligence gathering techniques, with community policing to get results that will benefit the community.”

"The drugs trade is blight on Londoners, bringing crime and violence to its neighbourhoods and ruining lives. As part of its New Met for London strategy, the Met will continue to tackle crimes that matter most to communities and deliver on their behalf."

In court, Lock was described by the judge as overseeing a ‘sophisticated commercial enterprise’ before sentencing him at Southwark Crown Court on November 15.

Sign up to our London Court & Crime newsletter for the latest major court updates and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up HERE