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Pair on bikes spotted peddling drugs in park by plain-clothed police

12 0
10.03.2026

Neil Alden and Reece O'Rourke had been spotted by undercover officers arriving on bikes at a park off Marine Parade in Great Yarmouth.

Norwich Crown Court heard Alden, 36, had been on a mobile phone while riding an electric bike before being met by O'Rourke, 21, who arrived at the park on a pedal bike.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

Nargees Choudhury, prosecuting, said Alden was seen by officers passing something to O'Rourke. They then became suspicious a drugs deal was taking place.

After O'Rourke was seen passing something to Alden police moved in and arrested both defendants who had initially attempted to ride off from police in the park, she added.

Both defendants had mobile phones seized on which were found drug dealing messages, including that Alden had been selling cannabis "wholesale" to O'Rourke.

Following their arrest neither defendant entered a comment in interview.

The drug dealers were caught by plain clothes officers off Marine Parade in Yarmouth (Image: Newsquest)

Alden, of Perebrown Avenue, Yarmouth, appeared in court on Tuesday (March 10) after admitting two counts of being concerned in the supply of cocaine between July 14 and 22 2025 and August 21 2024 and September 6 2024.

He also admitted possession with intent to supply cannabis in Yarmouth on September 5 2025.

O'Rourke, of Harbord Crescent, Yarmouth, admitted one count of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession with intent to supply cannabis and being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

John Morgans, mitigating for Alden, said it was "his own misuse of drugs that led him to the position he's in today" but he insisted the defendant had used his time in custody constructively.

Michael Clare, mitigating, said O'Rourke should be given credit for his pleas and was "at the end of the chain" in a bid to "feed his own habit".

He said the defendant, who has autism and whose mental age is much lower than his physical age, is "constantly bullied" in prison where he was "easy prey" and recently suffered a bad beating.

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Recorder John Brooke-Smith sentenced Alden to 24 months imprisonment, suspended for two years while O'Rourke was given a 20-month sentence suspended for two years.


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