Darren Eastwood ‘sealed his fate’ when he accidentally dialled an emergency number earlier this year, exposing himself as the owner of a phone used to sell drugs
A “hapless” drug dealer who was caught by police with 150 grams of cocaine after he pocket dialled the service on a phone he was using for illicit deals has been jailed.
Darren Eastwood, 31, admitted to supplying cocaine after being caught with the Class A drug and £79,500 in cash at two addresses in Sevenoaks, Kent. Eastwood was caught by police after his phone accidentally dialled the 112 European emergency line, allowing investigators to confirm that the device, which had been used to send messages to drug users, belonged to him.
Detectives said the dealer had sealed his own fate after Eastwood “confirmed what officers already suspected”, and he was sentenced to four years behind bars.
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Kent Police said that officers examined call data from the number and found it was used in the same locations as a second device, which was registered as Eastwood’s personal phone.
On one occasion, investigators found, both phones had been used to make a call to the same number. They also discovered a message sent to drug users on December 24, 2025, advertising ” Christmas deals”.
Eastwood’s fateful call to 112, which is primarily used by EU visitors to contact emergency services, was made on January 11, with operators hearing only background noise when they answered.
Police later reconnected with the number to check the original caller was ok, and it was picked up by a man who refused to give his name – but said the call was a pocket dial.
Eastwood was arrested on Hitchen Hatch Road on January 16 after he was found with wraps of cocaine, two mobile phones, and wraps of cash amounting to £79,500. He was charged with being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, possession of class A drugs with intent to supply, and possession of criminal property (money), which he admitted in court on Monday, January 19.
Detective Constable Mark Simcox said that call “sealed his fate”. He said: “Unfortunately for Eastwood, his hapless pocket-dial sealed his fate as it confirmed what officers already suspected – that he was involved in a drugs line.”
Eastwood was convicted at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday after admitting to the charges, and was jailed for four years. Det Con Simcox added: “Officers are dedicated to disrupting drugs lines in Kent as this illegal trade brings so much misery to the communities they operate in.
“The dedication of all of the officers involved means that a large quantity of drugs is now off the streets, Eastwood is in prison and thousands of pounds intended to line the pockets of criminals has been seized.”
