Norfolk drug dealer jailed for 12 years
The 36 year old helped supply cocaine and cannabis worth around £1.5m
Last updated 19th Mar 2026
A West Walton man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for using the encrypted communications platform EncroChat to supply drugs worth around £1.5m in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.
Ricky Peppercorn, 36, of Salts Road, was sentenced at King's Lynn Crown Court after being convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis, along with failing to provide his PIN code for a seized mobile phone.
International authorities cracked EncroChat's encryption in 2020, enabling police to access thousands of messages exchanged by criminals across Europe.
Detectives in Norfolk used this data to identify Peppercorn through the handle 'nextbush,' linking him to cocaine and cannabis distribution.
Evidence suggested plans to establish a cannabis factory, with Peppercorn believed to have brought 14 kilos of cocaine and 9 kilos of cannabis into Norfolk between March and June 2020.
His operations included trips from West Walton to Wisbech and Peterborough during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Peppercorn's home was raided on 3rd June 2021, leading to the seizure of a broken phone, discarded SIM cards, and cocaine.
His trial was postponed in January 2025 due to illness, but he was found guilty by a jury on 26th September 2025.
Stephen Dodd from Norfolk Constabulary's Serious Organised Crime Unit commented:
"Like many criminals who had used EncroChat for their illicit dealings, Ricky Peppercorn had been convinced he was operating under the radar.
"He felt safe enough to co-ordinate the sale and exchange of drugs. Little did he know we would be able to view those messages.
"I hope today's sentence shows we will continue to pursue those who seek to profit from drugs and the harm they cause, and we will use every tool available to disrupt and dismantle serious organised crime gangs."