Exeter drug dealers sentenced for supply of Class A drugs
Sam Searle, 21, and Riley Orchard, 19, were sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on Monday (September 29)
Last updated 1st Oct 2025
Two drug dealers have been sentenced for pedalling heroin and crack cocaine in Exeter.
Sam Searle, 21, and Riley Orchard, 19, appeared before Exeter Crown Court on Monday 29 September after pleading guilty to two charges each of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Searle pictured, of Leypark Road in Exeter, also pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place. He was jailed for three years and three months.
Orchard, of no fixed abode, was given a two year suspended sentence and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and participate in a rehabilitation programme.
The court heard how on 22 July plain clothes officers witnessed Searle making an exchange with a known local drug user in a car park on Water Lane, Exeter.
Searle was then seen meeting and making an exchange with another user outside a church while an event was going on inside.
A short time later Searle was stopped by a team of officers and arrested.
During the arrest Searle handed over his phone and told officers that he was carrying a large hunting knife on his hip. He was also found in possession of £300 in cash.
Minutes later officers came across Orchard who had been seen working alongside Searle and making exchanges with local users.
Both were arrested and a property Searle had been seen coming out of was searched.
During the search large quantities of heroin and crack cocaine were located in the bathroom along with some mini scales and a small amount of cannabis.
On the journey to custody Orchard told officers that he had drugs secreted between his buttocks. The subsequent strip search found two bags containing heroin and crack cocaine.
The ensuing investigation revealed that a burner type phone belonging to Searle was sending out bulk messages advertising drugs for sale. Over 75 supply-ready wraps of heroin and crack cocaine were seized from the pair, along with other bags containing larger amounts of heroin.