A MANHUNT has been launched after a drug dealer's sentence was ruled to be too lenient on appeal.

O’neil Pendley was jailed for two years and 10 months for dealing drugs in Worcester but walked free the same day because of time spent on remand.

His co-defendant was found in possession of 62 wraps of heroin and 111 wraps of crack cocaine (street value £1,730).

READ MORE: How we reported the original sentence of Pendley 

This month Pendley is facing longer behind bars after this original sentence last December was deemed too lenient by an appeal judge in London.

Officers from South Worcestershire Proactive CID raised concerns about the leniency of the sentence at Worcester Crown Court - last week these concerns were upheld on appeal in London. 

Pendley had been involved in dealing drugs in Fort Royal Park in Worcester.

Worcester News: CONCERNS: Drug dealing in Fort Royal Park in Worcester CONCERNS: Drug dealing in Fort Royal Park in Worcester (Image: Newsquest)

We reported last December how Pendley, 29, of Capstone Avenue, Birmingham, was charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine).

However, he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of those drugs.

On Friday, October 18, 2019, Pendley was stopped for the purpose of a search in Fort Royal Park, Worcester by plain clothes detectives from the South Worcestershire Proactive CID County Lines Team following an interaction with a known drug user.

Pendley had two previous class A drug supply convictions and committed this offence while on licence.

West Mercia Police appealed the sentence because he was a third strike drug dealer which ordinarily attracts a minimum seven-year sentence. 

On Friday, Feb 17, DC Jason Atkins, the officer in case, attended the Royal Courts of Justice in London, where the case was heard.

DC Atkins said: "The original sentencing was found to be unduly lenient and he was re-sentenced to 75 Months (6 yrs 3 months). As he was not in custody and did not attend, he was given until 4pm on February 19 to hand himself into Perry Barr custody block and be taken to prison to serve the rest of his sentence."

However, he did not hand himself in. A warrant for his arrest has now been issued.

DC Atkins, summarising court proceedings, said: "It was submitted today on behalf of the Solicitor General that the sentence was unduly lenient.

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"The sentencing judge was incorrect to find ‘special circumstances’ to not apply the minimum term of 7 years, this being the Offender’s third Class A drug trafficking offence."

He said of the sentence: "It was a great result to the appeal and shows that not only will we continue to target drug dealers but will continue to pursue them if we feel that the sentencing is not sufficient for the offences being committed.

"The team is committed to making Worcester a ‘no go’ area for drug dealers and will use every power available to us to achieve this, including appealing sentences that are too lenient."