Detective commended for 'exemplary' work in helping to bring down county lines gang leader peddling drugs in Portsmouth

Detective Sergeant Tom Hewitt helped topple Londoner Terrell King, 25, who was the mastermind behind a £450,000 criminal enterprise to peddle heroin and crack cocaine onto the streets of Portsmouth - with him jailed for seven years.

The commendation to the officer was made at Portsmouth Crown Court by judge William Ashworth after David Richards, the prosecutor in the case, recommended the award.

Speaking of his commendation, Det Sgt Hewitt told The News: ‘I’m really chuffed. It was an interesting case to investigate and I really enjoyed it.

‘It’s an honour to receive such an unusual award. We were able to take out the main (county) line of advertising drugs through brilliant proactive police work.’

Problems in the build-up to the trial threatened to jeopardise matters before Det Sgt Hewitt, 39, helped turn things around.

‘It was clear to me the paperwork the jury needed was lacking and not ready for trial,’ Mr Richards said.

‘He co-ordinated the production of the jury paperwork to allow the case to proceed.

‘I didn’t have a junior barrister so he was acting on my directions and doing the work of a prosecutor’s junior.

‘He didn’t have a team to help him because there were three or four murders in Portsmouth around the time so all the resources went into those investigations.’

Mr Richards said the detective also took responsibility for co-ordinating witnesses and for overseeing disclosure for the Crown’s case.

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The prosecutor added: ‘Mr Hewitt was working late at night when there were no distractions and dealing with my demands.’

Judge Ashworth said Det Sgt Hewitt’s work was ‘exemplary’ especially because it helped capture gang leader King. ‘Too often we see runners before the court but this got right to the root of a county lines gang with its leader sentenced to seven years,’ he said.

The judge, who thanked Mr Richards for the recommendation, said the court had ‘no hesitation’ in declaring the honour after Portsmouth’s resident judge Timothy Mousley QC immediately endorsed it.

‘It is an extremely unusual step for the court to make,’ judge Ashworth continued. ‘The court remains independent of prosecution and defence but it is clear in this case you went far beyond what was required of you in the pursuit of justice.

‘Not only did you take on the task of making sure the case was ready for trial but your exemplary attention to detail ensured all defendants pleaded guilty.

‘Thank you on behalf of the court.’

As is custom, no formal item was presented for the commendation. Instead the award will be documented by the court and police.

Det Sgt Hewitt, who has been with Hampshire police for 13 years, thanked the judge and Mr Richards.

The gang’s conspiracy ran between September 23, 2016 and April 5, 2017.

All four other members were spared jail.

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