Four British soldiers have been sentenced to prison for selling nearly £100,000 worth of cocaine to fellow military personnel at a Wiltshire base. The court heard that the drugs were sourced from west London and sold over a three-year period, with the proceeds used to buy designer goods.
The operation was orchestrated by Rifleman Claudius Scott, with Rfn Ryan Saedi as his second-in-command. L/Cpl Bradley Hesketh and Rfn Ashleigh Walker acted as trusted dealers. All four admitted conspiracy to supply drugs. Scott and Saedi each made over £40,000 from the scheme.
The court heard that the cocaine was cut with a caffeine product, with Hesketh once texting an accomplice that they needed to do some “Gordon Ramsay magic” to the drug. Scott expressed concern about Hesketh’s lack of discretion after he was seen wearing a Rolex watch and Christian Louboutin shoes in Amesbury.
Saedi also ran a “double bubble” loan scheme, requiring borrowers to repay double the amount on their next payday. He persistently chased debtors and threatened them. One of his customers, Rfn Nathan Worner, took his own life in May 2020. Worner’s mother said she believed Saedi’s greed and intimidation contributed to her son’s state of mind.
Scott was jailed for four years and one month, Saedi for three years and four months, Hesketh for three years and one month, and Walker for two years and nine months. The assistant judge advocate condemned their actions, stating they had joined a criminal conspiracy for financial gain.
