February 5, 2001 17:15: AN EXTENSIVE police surveillance operation in Orpington and Tottenham led to the arrest of a Keston man for drug dealing.

Richard Rose, 35, of Croydon Road, Keston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply amphetamine sulphate at Wood Green Crown Court, and is due to be sentenced this week. Rose was apprehended following a police surveillance operation on April 4 last year, which led to the arrest of him and two other men as they sat in a caf at Bodyworks Gym in Tottenham, beside a carrier bag containing £22,000.

A fourth man was arrested while attempting to drive out of the car park with a quantity of amphetamine. Prosecutor Alison Clare told the jury that Rose was met by an accomplice with a cardboard box containing drugs at Saltwood Close, Orpington, where they talked before driving off in their respective cars.

Rose drove to Tottenham Hale tube station where he was said to have met three accomplices, including Trevor Cooke, 44, of Hyde in Cheshire. The convoy then drove up to the gym in Tottenham.

At the gym the police arrested Rose and two other men as they sat with the money.