Thetford drug dealer, Natasha Dowling, jailed for 40 months for supplying heroin from her home

A Thetford woman who set up a drugs business to fuel the habits of her and her late husband has been jailed for 40 months for supplying heroin.

Natasha Dowling, 35, from Ben Culey Drive, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on November 9, after being found guilty of being concerned in the supply of heroin between January 1 and May 6 this year.

The court heard how Dowling had a difficult childhood and that she was a carer for her husband, Michael, known as Tony Dowling. They had set up a small drugs business to fuel their own habit and that Tony had died while Dowling was remanded in prison.

Detective Constable Daniel Rayner said: “Class A Drugs have a devastating impact, it’s a miserable trade which the police continue to take seriously as it fuels a host of issues including crime, mental health issues and physical and societal problems.”

Police found evidence Dowling, who pleaded guilty, had been actively involved in the supply of Class A drugs.

Officers executed a warrant on May 10, at her address where they found further evidence of her involvement in the drugs line. Dowling was subsequently charged with supplying heroin.

The court heard how the messages on her phone were in bulk and to different numbers, behaviour consistent with a drugs line.

In total, from January 2 to April 1, the data showed Dowling had sent out 306 texts offering drugs for sale, believed to be heroin and of similar nature, part of the standard way a drugs line works.