• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Retired Traffic Warden Led Double Life As Drug Dealer Who Called Herself Gangster Granny'

Home> News

Updated 15:48 5 Apr 2022 GMT+1Published 12:35 11 Feb 2022 GMT

Retired Traffic Warden Led Double Life As Drug Dealer Who Called Herself Gangster Granny'

Maureen Thompson fell into a life of crime after developing a drug problem

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

A retired traffic warden who called herself a 'gangster granny' has been convicted of drug dealing.

Maureen Thompson, from Greater Manchester, began leading a double life as a drug dealer after she became addicted to cocaine following an injury leading her into early retirement.

She says it caused her to rack up massive debts, which she paid off through dealing.

The 61-year-old was arrested after police raided her home and found 47 wraps of cocaine hidden in a sock and almost 400 grams of cutting agents inside a binbag.

Advert

Officers also uncovered a debtors 'tick list' in a notebook as well as messages in her phone that related to numerous drug deals.

According to reports, the drugs seized by police was valued at £1,335.

Despite the mounting evidence, Thompson denied any wrong doing, telling officers that she had no idea where the drugs had come from.

However, when she was eventually questioned, the mum-of-one was found to be wearing the same kind of socks that had been used to hide the cocaine.

Maureen Thompson fell into a life of crime after developing a drug habit.
Cavendish Press

Advert

And during a hearing at Bolton Crown Court, she admitted to charges of possession with intent to supply as well as acquiring criminal property.

In a statement, Thompson said that her drug habit caused her to spiral into debt, and led to her working for her dealer.

She explained that she operated the phones for him and stored drugs in her house.

''I was in substantial debt to a drug dealer and I could not pay those debts so I agreed to let the dealer use my account to deposit and withdraw drugs money," Thompson said.

''My debt continued to incur interest and I agreed to store drugs and operate a drugs phone for him.

Advert

"I was a traffic enforcement officer for 28 years in Bolton and I had a serious accident which forced me into retirement.

''The medication pain relief I was taking made me spiral out of control and I started using Class A drugs.''

Defending Thompson, Joshua Bowker said his client's crimes were the result of a series of unfortunate events.

He told the court: ''Background reports on Miss Thompson paint a very different picture of her. This was offending committed after a protracted period of misfortune and misery resulting in control of her own life spiralling away from her.

Police found over £1,000 worth of drugs when they raided her home.
Cavendish Press

Advert

''Throughout her entire life there has been a significant amount of trauma with multiple incidents of significant events happening in her life which had a great effect on her.

''There was a campaign of domestic violence she was subjected to for many years by more than one partner. She is now living with her son and that face is a more stablishing influence on her.

''She held her employment until through no fault of her own for health reasons it came to an end in the mid 2010s.

''Although there was frequent alcohol abuse connected to the domestic violence, the loss of her employment, the stability and pride that it gave, led to increasing amounts of alcohol being consumed and prolific use of cocaine.

''It led to debt and this offending occurring. This is offending out of character for her. Her use of cocaine is now on a much smaller scale but it is still happening as she's an addict.

Advert

"Her intention will be to completely wean herself off that drug use. She poses a low risk of reoffending.''

Thompson was handed a two years suspended sentence and ordered to complete a 12-month drug rehabilitation programme.

The 61-year-old was handed a suspended sentence.
Cavendish Press

She was also ordered to complete 30 rehabilitation days and to wear an electronic tag for four months as part of a 7pm and 7am curfew.

The pensioner will also face a Proceeds of Crime hearing.

Sentencing, Thompson Judge Martin Walsh said Thompson lucky to escape immediate prison time.

He said: ''This court frequently has people appearing in front of it whose lives have been utterly devastated and destroyed by their addictions to drugs.

"Communities are blighted by the activity of those who resort to crime in order to feed their habits and those who profit out of the creation of such misery for personal financial gain can expect to receive significant prison sentences.

''But I have regard to your basis of plea and reports about you. I am just about persuaded about your circumstances to pass a suspended sentence. But I want to make it absolutely crystal clear - you have escaped going to prison by the skin of your teeth."

A judge will review Thompson's progress in two months time.

Featured Image Credit: Cavendish Press

Topics: Crime, UK News, Drugs

Dominic Smithers
Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers is LADbible's Editorial Lead. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History, he went on to write for the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express. So as you can imagine, he’s spent many a night wondering just how useful that second language has been. But c'est la vie.

X

@SmithersDom

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Drug dealer arrested after accidentally exposing his identity when sharing picture of just his fingers
  • Police slam British teen's claim as they release CCTV after she is accused of 'smuggling £200k of cannabis'
  • Police respond after Brit teen claims she was ‘tortured into trafficking £200k-worth of cannabis’
  • UK doctor explains worrying reason they've had to open a ketamine clinic for children as young as 12

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
10 hours ago
12 hours ago
  • 9 hours ago

    Keir Starmer speaks out after British girl sent home from school for wearing Union Jack dress on culture day

    The school has since issued an apology

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Brit, 69, detained after ‘smuggling £350k-worth of drugs in secret compartment of his car’ into Spain

    He was said to be boarding the car ferry in Ceuta, Spain

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    Doctor reveals patient's brain turned blue after taking 'limitless pill' that's gone viral on TikTok

    People on social media have hailed the substance a ‘game changer for mental clarity and longevity’

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    Doctor shares the nine warning signs of heart failure and how to spot them

    Dr Jen Caudle has revealed the nine 'most common' symptoms of the condition

    News