Father and son sentenced after supplying ketamine in East Lancashire

A father and son have appeared in the dock after admitting to illegally supplying ketamine in East Lancashire.

On 29th April of last year our officers attended a property in Tennyson Avenue, Padiham, as part of Operation Shore, which is our response to ketamine misuse in the Burnley borough.

Anthony Brown, 44, was arrested at that property and his son Mason Brown, 22, was arrested later the same day.

Evidence from Mason’s phone showed he was involved in the illicit supply of ketamine, cocaine, ecstasy, 2-CB and cannabis.

When Anthony’s phone was seized, there were messages relating to the illegal supply of ketamine.

During the investigation numerous messages were recovered from the Browns phones indicating that they were working together to sell ketamine. These included a cluster of messages between 4^th September 2024 and 6^th September 2024, where they discuss a new quality batch of ketamine arriving and messages from Mason asking Anthony if he could come over to his house to collect ketamine to sell to his customers.

Messages were also recovered from Mason’s phone indicating that in October 2024 was conspiring with his co-defendant Jochime Adu to sell illegal drugs.

By April 2025 Anthony had run up a debt with Adu for ketamine, resulting in Adu sending him threatening messages.

Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, the defendants were charged with the following offences which they were sentenced for at Preston Crown Court on Monday (12^th January).

Mason Brown, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply ketamine, and being concerned in the supply of cocaine, ecstasy, 2 C-B, cannabis, and ketamine. Jailed for four years and six months.

Anthony Brown, of Tennyson Avenue, Padiham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply ketamine. Having been remanded into custody for 216 days, was given a 12-month community order.

Jochime Adu, 29, of Farm Cottages, Ramsbottom, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply ketamine. Having been remanded into custody for 177 days, was given a 15-month suspended prison sentence.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given 12-month community order.

DC Tom Sanford, from our East Exploitation Team, said: “Mason and Anthony Brown sought to financially benefit by exploiting vulnerable drug users, particularly those addicted to ketamine. Ketamine is a drug which is often used recreationally by children that can have long-term and often life-changing health consequences.

“We are committed to targeting those who choose to sell illegal drugs in East Lancashire and putting them before the courts.”