A prolific Hastings drug dealer who ran a nationwide criminal enterprise while on the run, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Andrew Prince, 29, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A, B and C drugs across the country, as well as actual bodily harm (ABH). The prosecution was led by Jordan Franks of Westgate Chambers.
Prince’s network, described by the court as “an Amazon for drug supply”, operated across the UK and while Prince was on the run, through Turkey, Greece, Albania and Georgia, where he was finally arrested on March 3, 2026 and extradited to the UK.
Jordan Franks said: “He ran a network of people moving drugs, collecting cash and was responsible for sending out marketing adverts to the customer base. He would also use menus of drugs available and instruct others to distribute them.”
The court heard Prince advertised a “pick ’n mix” range of drugs, supplying wholesale quantities to customers across the UK by post.
Following his initial arrest in Hastings in February 2022, Prince fled the UK and continued his criminal operations from abroad for four years.
Mr Franks added: “He supplied almost all the recreational drugs on the market up to wholesale amounts locally and nationally.”
His Honour, Judge Joshua Swirsky, labelled the extent of Princes operation as “extraordinary” and declared: “This was an extraordinary drugs operation by anyone’s standards.”
A nine-year sentence was concluded for the 11 counts of conspiracy to supply drugs, with the judge ruling that a further 12 months for ABH be served consecutively.
Prince plead guilty to eight counts of conspiring to supply a Class A controlled drug, one count of conspiring to supply a Class B controlled drug, one count of conspiring to supply a Class C controlled drug and one count of conspiring to have custody / control a thing knowing it was a counterfeit currency note with intent.
Alongside admitting a charge of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm against a woman, relating to an offence committed overseas.
Prince will be required to serve at least one third of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
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