R v Marvin Franzen

Facts

The appellant, Marvin Franzen, pleaded guilty before Liverpool Magistrates' Court and on 24 December 2025 was committed to the Crown Court for sentence under section 14 of the Sentencing Act 2020 in respect of one offence of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug (heroin) and two offences of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug (crack cocaine and heroin). The offending came to light through a police investigation called "Operation Toxic", concerning a drugs line operating in the Peterhead area of Aberdeen but originating in Merseyside. Between 26 October and 23 December 2025 the line was used to advertise and facilitate the supply of Class A drugs, the appellant sending flare messages to multiple drug users; his personal phone was co-located with the graft phone over 47 days, with 2,392 events. A warrant executed on 23 December 2025 at his address recovered 125 grams of heroin at 52 per cent purity, 1.78 grams of cocaine at 91 per cent purity, over 1,000 grams of bulking agents and approximately £12,000 in cash. He made full and frank admissions in interview and advanced an accepted basis of plea. On 4 February 2026 His Honour Judge Ian Harris sentenced him to concurrent terms of five years' imprisonment on each offence. He appealed against sentence with the leave of the single judge.