Benefits Street residents charged with drug offences

Seven people have been charged following raids on the now-famous James Turner Street in Birmingham - including one of the stars of the Channel 4 documentary series

(Creative Commons/Peter Whatley)

Seven people have been charged with drug offences following raids on houses in TV’s “Benefits Street”, including one of the stars of the Channel 4 series.

Samora Roberts, known on the programme as Black Dee, has been charged along with five other residents of James Turner Street in Birmingham.

A seventh person, from Dora Road in nearby Handsworth, was also charged in relation to a series of raids carried out on James Turner Street in June last year.

West Midlands Police said they searched a number of addresses on the now-famous street after concerns were raised by the local community. Officers arrested a number of people and class A and B drugs were recovered.

Charges were brought on Wednesday after a period of enquiries, which are ongoing, and all seven have been bailed to appear before Birmingham Magistrates' Court on 6 February.

Ms Roberts, 32, was charged with conspiracy to supply cannabis and cocaine, possession of a class A controlled drug (diamorphine), and possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate.

Charlene Wilson, 29, Ian Wright, 38, Marvin Scott, 37, and Monique Walker, 28, all of James Turner Street, were also charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Ms Wilson, Mr Wright and Tina Thomas, 46, also of James Turner Street, were charged with conspiracy to supply cannabis.

In other charges brought against residents of what the Channel 4 documentary-makers say is one of Britain’s most benefits-dependent streets, Ms Wilson will also face one count of possession of diamorphine, and Ms Thomas was charged with possession of ammunition without a certificate.

Omari George, 20, of Handsworth, was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply cannabis.