Named ‘delivery rider’ guilty of Oxfordshire cocaine dealing

Leonardo Silvestre, aged 23 and of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A, namely cocaine, at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Monday (April 13).

He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on May 12.

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This follows his arrest on April 10 at Denchworth Road, Wantage.

Thames Valley Police said they stopped a male “posing as a food‑delivery rider after suspicious behaviour caught our attention”.

The force added: “That instinct paid off — during a search we recovered 16 wraps of cocaine and over £1,000 in cash. All seized.”

Cocaine found by police after the arrest on Denchworth Road, Wantage (Image: Thames Valley Police)

The police team said that this was part of their ongoing crackdown on drugs in Wantage.

They said: “Our recent survey told us loud and clear that our community wants us to focus on drug-related activity—and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Over the next few days they had several other encounters with possible drugs offenders, including arresting a man, reportedly mid drug deal, on April 11, at Naldertown in Wantage.

The bike taken after the arrest on Denchworth Road, Wantage (Image: Thames Valley Police)

The force said: “As a result, a 22-year-old male from outside the area was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

“Drugs and cash were located on him, and his vehicle was seized.”

That man has since been released on police bail until June 26.

On April 12 they saw another man engaging in drug-related activity in Wantage with the suspect running from the police officers.

“Despite our best efforts—and assistance from the police helicopter—we were unable to locate him,” the police said.

Police make a drugs-related arrest in Wantage (Image: Thames Valley Police)

They added: “However, we did seize his vehicle, along with cash and significant items inside.”

As of Friday, April 17 no arrests have been made in the case.

In one of their updates the Wantage and Grove neighbourhood police team warned that much of the drugs activity in the area relates to ‘county lines’.

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The police explained: “It’s when organised drug networks from big cities push into smaller towns, exploiting vulnerable people to move drugs and money. It brings violence, fear and exploitation into communities that deserve better.

“This is one of several arrests we’ve made recently. Every time county lines tries to creep into Wantage, we’ll be there — and we’ll stop them.

“A huge thank‑you to our fantastic colleagues from Abingdon and Faringdon neighbourhood police teams for backing us up. Teamwork keeps our communities safe.”