Stockton cocaine dealer ‘Machete’ lived millionaire lifestyle

Andrew Savage, known as Machete, was found to have sold more than £1m worth of cocaine after he was traced from the other man’s mobile phone.

The 34-year-old, who spent £127,000 on luxury items and holidays, had taken a total of 15,604 payments for the class A drug weighing around 13.7kgs through a bank account.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Savage, who would organise cars and supplies for a team of drug dealers, had more than £20,000 in cash hidden away inside his Stockton home.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said a search of Savage’s mobile phone, which he had previously used to call police about a burglary, contained countless details of drug transactions.

While a check of his finances revealed he had handled more than £1m in payments for cocaine and spent the cash on living a lavish lifestyle between January 2020 and March this year.

Mr Dryden said the investigation also uncovered how Savage had been trading in gold bullion while buying Rolex watches and designer goods.

He said 25 wraps of cocaine was also recovered from his home which was hidden inside a box in his rear yard.

“From the lost, police recovered a carrier back with £20,000 in cash and a further amount of £1,800 from his bedroom,” he said.

A credit card used by the defendant showed transactions worth £127,000 spent on foreign holidays and designer goods.

Savage, of Swinton Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property following his arrest on March 20, this year.

Gary Wood, representing Savage, told the court how his client’s young child had a serious medical condition and urged the judge to take that into account at sentence.

“He was not at the top of the organisation,” he said. “He didn’t have any influence on those higher up.”

Recorder Marco Giuliani, who locked Savage up for a total of 12 years, said: “For six years, you were leading a gang of people supplying cocaine on the streets.

“You were facilitating the restocking of the cocaine and you were providing cars to those working on the drug line.

“You were receiving money for your own use as a result of you leading this group of drug suppliers.

“I accept that you not at the top of the chain and you were being supplied by another individual but you actively participated in ensuring that cocaine could be placed on the streets.”

Speaking after the hearing, DC Maloney, of Cleveland Police, said: “Savage operated his criminal network under the radar by using a pseudonym.

During this time, he was found to have profited significantly from the supply of cocaine earning more than a million pounds through expensive holidays, cars and jewellery.

“Following the arrest of another individual, a thorough investigation took place to identify who ‘machete’ was and the level he was operating in through the recruitment of drug dealers in Cleveland.

“This led us to Savage and seizing cocaine and cash within his property.

“The sentence handed to Savage is testament to his criminality and how he exploited others to do his dirty work while he enjoyed the rewards.

“Thankfully it has all come crashing down on him and he is now spending time behind bars.”

A proceeds of crime hearing against Savage will be heard in due course once his finances have been analysed.