UK Drug Dealer Who Used Chip & Pin Machine & Gave Out Receipts Jailed For 7 years (News)

 A drug dealer who used a chip and pin device to take payments for cocaine has been caught because he gave customers receipts bearing his nickname.

Mark Slender, 35, tried to 'bring drug dealing into the 21st century' with the card reader and even provided buyers with thank you receipts that read: 'Cheers, Gup.'



Slender, of Gloucestershire, was jailed for seven years after police seized the device, which recorded almost £12,000 worth of drug deals between March 21 and August 15.
Slender, who also goes by the name Mark Wilson, Guppy and Gup, was snared thanks to receipts from a chip and pin reader he invested in.

He took the card payments via this device as an alternative to cash transactions, and it was plugged into his vehicle charging when seized by police.
PC Thom Finnikin, of Tewkesbury Police, said: 'Slender appears to have made a considerable profit dealing drugs and tried to conceal his financial gain by investing in expensive items.
'We seized pieces of designer clothing and gold sovereigns worth in excess of £10,000, which we believe were bought with his drug money.

'He attempted to bring drug dealing into the 21st century by using a chip and pin machine to take payment for cocaine and subsequently showed his arrogance by putting a tag line at the top of each receipt supplied to his drug buyers.

'Slender has extensive previous convictions for drugs supply. He was making a considerable profit in his illicit trade and I would like to thank the members of the community who provided the intelligence which led to his apprehension.'

The drug dealer was arrested following a warrant at his home in Bishop's Cleeve on Friday August 19.
During the search, officers seized around £5,800 worth of drugs, including cocaine with a purity of 93 per cent.

A large amount of cash, a large quantity of small zip lock plastic bags and digital scales, contaminated with cocaine and cannabis, were also seized.
Slender was given the sentence after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

[Courtesy Of The Daily Mail]