Charlie Carmichael-
Twin brothers along with their mother ran an enormous £400,000 illicit drug enterprise in the north of Essex – including selling substances to school children. Twins Bradley and Brendan, and their mother Paula Vidovic, jointly created a business which supplied cannabis and other cannabis products throughout the city.
Bradley and Brendan Vidovic sold drugs to school pupils, using sales tactics including a “deal of the day” as they
Bradley was charged with possession with intent to supply a Class B drug, being concerned in the supply of a Class B drug, possession of a knife in a public place, acquiring, using or possessing criminal property and obstructing a Misuse of Drugs search warrant.
His partner in crime, Brendan was charged with possession with intent to supply a Class B drug, being concerned in the supply of a Class B drug and acquiring, using or possessing criminal property. Paula, 58, was charged with being concerned in the supply of a Class B drug and criminal property offences.
All three admitted a selection of the charges at Ipswich Crown Court in July and were sentenced at the same court on October 17. Brendan and Bradley were each sentenced to 30 months in prison and Paula was sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for nine months. She was also made the subject of a nine-month curfew between 4pm and 8am
The pair, of Straight Road, Colchester, were jailed for 30 months having admitted drugs charges at Ipswich Crown Court in July.
Paula Vidovic was jailed for 21 months, suspended for nine months, and given a nine-month curfew between 4pm and 8a
The twins, both aged 23, of Straight Road, Colchester, previously had legitimate employment but decided to leave their jobs to focus full-time on their drug supply and criminal property business. They then worked five days a week, with set hours each day, and took Wednesdays and Sundays off.
Their business turned over an estimated £400,000 in sixteen months, according to Essex Police. Officers were patrolling Nelson Road in Colchester in July 2021 and noticed Bradley parked up and suspected he was about to deal drugs to a pedestrian. During a search of his car, officers found cannabis, a small knife and more than £200 in cash
Bradley and Brendan Vidovic sold drugs to school pupils, using sales tactics including a “deal of the day” as they dealt cannabis and the drug-laced sweet treats made by their mother Paula.
In 16 months, they built up a business that police estimated had made £400,000, having left their legal jobs to concentrate on the illegal enterprise.
Bradley was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences and the family home was subsequently searched. Although the investigation later showed that Brendan had attempted to conceal evidence from the family home before police arrived, officers still found a large quantity of cannabis in various guises and drug preparation paraphernalia.
Cops altogether seized over £12,000 worth of cannabis and almost £3,500 in cash. Examinations of Bradley’s phone found he would regularly send out bulk messages advertising a “menu” of products, which included herbal cannabis and various edible options such as cookies and gummy bear sweets.
The business also offered multibuy options, loyalty discounts and a daily “deal of the day”. Evidence suggested they were even dealing outside schools and with schoolchildren involved. Soon after the first house search, Magistrates granted police a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act to search the home address again. This resulted in further drugs and cash being seized, as well as Brendan being arrested.
Temporary Inspector Mark Jones, from Essex Police, said: “The drug dealing which this family was involved in was not simply for extra pocket money. This was serious, organised crime and it was generating significant criminal profits, none of which were taxed. Rather than working hard and contributing positively to the local community, the twins made an informed decision to move from the legal to the illegal economy.
“We had received complaints that the Vidovic Group’s activities were having a detrimental effect on people’s lives by bringing criminal activity to local neighbourhoods. With the brothers now behind bars, many people in Colchester will feel more relaxed in their homes.