Operation Cut Price                                                      

In February 2007, Christian Foster, 32 of Southwood, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough pleaded guilty to rape, conspiracy to supply heroin, false imprisonment and blackmail and was sentenced to 13 years by HHJ Briggs at Teesside Crown Court,

Cleveland Police conducted an investigation which identified that the rape complainant was the wife of a street dealer with whom Foster had a dispute. Foster thought the dealer held £60,000 of heroin that belonged to him, when unable to track down the drug dealer Foster turned his attention to the dealer’s family subsequently committing the offences subject of this conviction.

Foster owned businesses trading as Wallpaper Creations and Refill Products based in Redcar.  When executing a search warrant, Cleveland police found heroin worth £80,000 in a warehouse belonging to Foster.  They also found vast amounts of paracetamol in the warehouse which is commonly used as a bulking agent.

Lisa Cave who is Foster’s partner pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and was sentenced to 51 weeks imprisonment suspended for 2 years.

The Middlesbrough Gazette quoted Detective Constable Jim Devine from the Cleveland Police investigation team as saying “The court heard how Christian Foster was the head of a drugs empire, which he ran with Lisa Cave.  It heard about the horrific course of actions he would take to reinforce his demands upon others.  Our sympathy and thoughts are with the victims of these crimes”

Cleveland Police engaged the assistance of the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team to conduct a confiscation investigation to strip Foster of the £13,758.15 of assets that they had acquired as a result of the benefit the derived from their criminal conduct.

DCI Steve Waite from the NE RART stated: “This result shows that the court took into consideration the extreme seriousness of the offences committed and this is reflected in the sentences given by the judge.  The court also recognised that the defendants had benefited financially from their crimes.  Results like this send out a clear message that crime does not pay and reassures the public that the law enforcement agencies are working hard to secure convictions and strip the criminals of the proceeds of their crimes.  If you think someone is living beyond their means or is committing crime call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”