North London drug dealers have sentences increased
Rowan Lopez and Marc Lawrence have today had their sentences increased after they referred to the Court of Appeal for being unduly lenient.
Two men guilty of dealing class A drugs have today had their sentences increased after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred them for being too low.
Rowan Lopez, 31, and Marc Lawrence, 38, were under surveillance by police in early 2018. During this time, police saw them exchanging items with people, including known drug-users, outside of the block of Bounds Green flats they were based in.
When searched in February 2018, Lawrence was found to be in possession of heroin and crack cocaine. Lopez was arrested in March and found to be carrying £2,630 in cash, as well as a phone linked to previous drug deals. The flat was also searched, and police found more drugs.
Lopez and Lawrence were both originally sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison at Wood Green Crown Court in October 2018. Today, both of their sentences have been increased to 6 years in prison.
Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General said:
“I hope that the Court of Appeal’s decision today helps to deter others from dealing in drugs. Illegal substances destroy our local communities and those caught selling them will be dealt with severely.”