Colchester drug dealer Charlie Varnals' jaw shattered in jail

Charlie Varnals, 44, was sentenced to three years and eight months behind bars yesterday after admitting dealing crack cocaine and heroin in Colchester.

When police officers raided his flat in Kentish Town, north London, they found knives, drugs and a knuckle duster hidden inside a large “Kinder Egg” style container, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

Mobile phones seized at the property revealed Varnals had been operating three different “Mitch” drug lines in Colchester and London between September and December 2021.

Drug dealer - Charlie Varnals (Image: Essex Police)

James Wing, mitigating, claimed his client was “coerced” into getting involved in drug dealing.

He said when Varnals was remanded in custody back in May 2022, he encountered the “gang” he had been working for.

The court heard Varnals’ jaw was “shattered” after they assaulted him.

READ THE FULL STORY >> Colchester cocaine dealer who used drugs line phone to call his mum is jailed

Mr Wing stated Varnal’s mother’s home had been “firebombed” by the same group.

He said: “He was playing an operational role organising the movement of drugs from runner to customer and the movement of money back the other way.

“Mr Varnals received limited financial rewards which is consistent with him being in a lesser role.

Sentence - Chelmsford Crown Court (Image: Google)

“Members of the gang had firebombed his mother’s home.

“He was essentially acting under a significant degree of coercion and he felt at the time he had no choice.

“He is desperate to turn his back on his former life of crime.”

Judge David Turner KC said Varnals’ work with the drugs line had enabled the “evils” that Class A drugs can cause to continue.

He said: “You will not need a lecture from me on the evils of drugs as you know the consequences of dealing with people in the trade.”

Varnals was jailed for three years and eight months.