Purshotam Dhillon, a 59-year-old magistrate who served at courts in Ealing, Feltham and Uxbridge, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a drug supply operation across London. Dhillon allowed gang boss Hardeep Thind to use his home in Hounslow as a base for weighing and packaging heroin and crack cocaine, storing both drugs and cash at the property.
Details of the Operation
The Metropolitan Police began investigating the "Hadi" drugs line in January 2024, identifying Thind as the central figure. Thind, also known as Harry Singh, was already serving a 17-year prison sentence for conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine, as well as possession of a Skorpion submachine gun. While in an open prison, he used a mobile phone to direct operations and even expanded his network after his release in October 2024.
Dhillon, who is a drug addict, was identified as a key lieutenant. Bikramjit Brar, 46, from Hayes, was involved in drug distribution, and Leandrea Lynch, 49, also from Hayes, acted as a runner. All four were arrested in coordinated police raids on July 1, 2025.
Evidence and Sentencing
During the raids, officers discovered a van linked to Thind parked outside Dhillon's house containing large quantities of heroin. Drugs valued at £174,000 were seized, along with evidence of drugs being weighed and packed inside Dhillon's home. Thind, Brar, and Lynch pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, while Dhillon was convicted after a trial.
On Thursday, the court sentenced Thind to 12 years in prison, Brar to three years and four months, and Lynch received a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence. Detective Inspector Mark Gavin, from the Met's Specialist Crime, stated: "This was a complex and far-reaching investigation that uncovered a well-established organised crime network responsible for supplying significant quantities of class A drugs across London. As a serving magistrate, Dhillon abused a position of trust in the most serious way. This case demonstrates that no-one is above the law."
Impact and Community Harm
The Met emphasized that the network caused serious harm to communities across London. The investigation successfully disrupted and dismantled the group, highlighting the importance of holding all individuals accountable, regardless of their position. Dhillon's role as a magistrate added an "air of respectability" to the operation, according to police.
