Magistrate Jailed for Role in £174K West London Drug Gang
A serving magistrate has been jailed for helping run a West London drug network that supplied more than £174,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine.
The gang's actual leader directed much of the operation from inside an open prison, using a phone he wasn't supposed to have.
Who Was Sentenced and for How Long
Four people were sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Thursday for their roles in the network, with combined sentences totaling 25 years, according to Radio Jackie's reporting on the case.
Purshotam Dhillon, 59, of Lampton Avenue, Hounslow, was a serving magistrate at the time of his arrest and was sentenced to seven years. Hardeep Thind, 48, also known as Harry Singh, of Wentworth Road, Southall, was identified as the network's ringleader and received 12 years and six months.
Bikramjit Brar, 46, of Nestles Avenue, Hayes, was jailed for three years and four months, while Leandrea Lynch, 49, of Dawley Road, Hayes, received two years and six months suspended for the same period.
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How a Prisoner Ran a Drug Line From Inside
The most striking element of the case isn't the magistrate's involvement. It's how Thind managed to keep running the operation while already behind bars.
Thind was serving a 17-year sentence for conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine, along with possession of a Skorpion submachine gun, when the Metropolitan Police began investigating the drugs line known as "Hadi" in January 2024.
While held in an open prison, Thind had access to a mobile phone and used it to direct the network, according to London Now's coverage of the investigation. He was released in October 2024 and, rather than stepping back, expanded the operation and recruited additional dealers across Hayes and Southall.
What the Magistrate Actually Did
Dhillon's role centered on using his home and his position to give the operation a degree of cover the gang otherwise wouldn't have had.
He allowed a van linked to Thind, which contained substantial quantities of heroin, to be parked outside his house, and permitted drugs to be weighed and packaged inside, Radio Jackie reported, citing the Met's investigation.
Dhillon, a self-confessed drug addict, was also found to have stored cash and equipment for the network. Detective Inspector Mark Gavin of the Met's Specialist Crime team said: "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, and those who engage in criminality will be held accountable."
How Police Actually Built the Case
The investigation relied on a combination of forensic evidence, surveillance, and a detail that proved unexpectedly revealing: how Thind referred to himself on his own phone.
Phone downloads recovered during the investigation included voice notes in which Thind discussed controlling drug lines and was referred to as "the plug," a term used for high-level suppliers, according to Radio Jackie's reporting on the evidence presented.
Forensic evidence directly linked Thind to significant quantities of heroin recovered from one of the cars under his control, while the same rare drug-cutting tool turned up across multiple separate police seizures, helping investigators tie different parts of the operation back to a single source.
What Happened on the Day of the Arrests
The case against all four reached a turning point on July 1, 2025, when officers moved on multiple addresses simultaneously.
Police carried out coordinated warrants across West London that day, arresting all four defendants at their homes and recovering heroin, crack cocaine, drug packaging materials, digital scales, large amounts of cash, multiple mobile phones, and handwritten "tick lists" recording drug transactions.
Thind and Brar later pleaded guilty to two counts each of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. Dhillon and Lynch were convicted by unanimous jury verdicts on May 8 following a trial at Croydon Crown Court, ahead of Thursday's sentencing.
Key Takeaways
- A serving magistrate, Purshotam Dhillon, 59, was jailed for seven years for his role in a West London drug network.
- Ringleader Hardeep Thind, 48 (also known as Harry Singh) received 12 years and six months, having run the network from an open prison using a phone.
- Bikramjit Brar was jailed for three years, four months; Leandrea Lynch received a suspended sentence.
- The network supplied drugs worth an estimated £174,000 in street value.
- Coordinated warrants on July 1, 2025, recovered heroin, crack cocaine, cash, and "tick lists" of drug transactions.
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Politics & World News Editor
James Mitchell has covered US and UK politics for over a decade, with a focus on elections, foreign policy, and Capitol Hill. He breaks down complex political stories into clear, fast analysis.
