Andre McGowan is in prison after being convicted of leading a significant drug supply operation in Nottingham. The 12-year sentence he received at Nottingham Crown Court on 30 March 2026 reflects six years of directing the “Vic Line” — a county lines drug supply network dealing crack cocaine and heroin — and a memorable attempted escape from police in 2023 that saw him jump from a first-floor window in his underpants.

Who Is Andre McGowan?

Andre McGowan is a drug dealer from Nottingham who ran a county lines-style drug supply operation known as the “Vic Line” for approximately six years. His case attracted widespread media attention not only because of the scale of his drug operation but because of his attempt to flee police by jumping from a first-floor window in his underwear when officers executed a warrant at his home in February 2023.

McGowan was brought to justice following a substantial police investigation into the Vic Line operation. The case was prosecuted at Nottingham Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty, and he was sentenced on 30 March 2026.

The Vic Line Drug Operation

The “Vic Line” was an established drug supply line operating in the Nottingham area. A police investigation was launched after intelligence was received about its activities. The operation supplied crack cocaine and heroin to users across Nottingham, with McGowan at the centre of the enterprise for around six years.

Officers seized significant quantities of drugs during the investigation. An Aldi carrier bag containing heroin and crack cocaine with a combined street value of up to £35,000 was thrown into a garden during the police operation. Quantities of cocaine and cannabis worth almost £12,000 were also seized. Officers additionally recovered and restrained assets belonging to McGowan including £28,186 in cryptocurrency and bank assets, which will be subject to confiscation proceedings. County lines drug dealing involves using mobile phone lines to take orders for drugs and is associated with exploitation of vulnerable people and violence. For more context on how UK courts sentence drug offences, see our overview of the UK Parole Board.

The Arrest — and the Escape Attempt

The arrest that led to McGowan’s downfall came in February 2023 when Nottinghamshire Police executed a warrant at his home in Belconnen Road, Bestwood, Nottingham. Rather than answering the door, McGowan climbed out of a first-floor window wearing only his underpants in an attempt to flee. He grazed his feet badly in the process and had to be taken to hospital for treatment before being formally arrested.

In a simultaneous warrant at a house in Norton Street, Radford, McGowan’s associate Shabezz Wheeler-Spink was found attempting to flush two plastic bags of heroin worth approximately £10,000 down the toilet — an attempt that failed when the toilet flooded the bathroom. Both men were arrested and subsequently charged. The dramatic circumstances of the arrests were widely reported.

The Sentence

At Nottingham Crown Court on 30 March 2026, Andre McGowan was sentenced to 12 years in prison for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs — specifically crack cocaine and heroin. The length of the sentence reflects the seriousness and duration of his involvement in the Vic Line operation. McGowan had been running the operation for approximately six years, making this a sustained and significant criminal enterprise.

Assets recovered from McGowan, including the cryptocurrency and bank assets totalling over £28,000, will be subject to proceeds of crime proceedings. This means the state can seek to permanently deprive him of money he is believed to have gained through his criminal activities. Families of prisoners can find practical guidance in our guide on sending money to a prisoner and our guide on booking a prison visit.

Co-Defendant Shabezz Wheeler-Spink

Shabezz Wheeler-Spink, of Fenton Road, Basford, Nottingham, was also sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court. His involvement in the Vic Line drug operation spanned approximately six months, a much shorter period than McGowan’s six-year involvement. He was jailed for three years for his role in the conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Wheeler-Spink was arrested at the same time as McGowan in February 2023, during the simultaneous warrant operation. His failed attempt to flush the heroin down the toilet — which resulted in the bathroom flooding — was captured in evidence and featured in the court proceedings. The contrast between the sentences — 12 years for McGowan and 3 years for Wheeler-Spink — reflects the very different levels of their involvement and culpability in the operation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Andre McGowan in prison?

Andre McGowan is in prison because he ran the “Vic Line” drug supply operation in Nottingham for approximately six years, supplying crack cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Nottingham Crown Court on 30 March 2026 after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

What was the Vic Line?

The Vic Line was an established drug supply operation based in Nottingham that supplied crack cocaine and heroin to users in the area. Police launched an investigation after receiving intelligence about its activities. Andre McGowan is believed to have been running the operation for approximately six years before his arrest in February 2023.

How did Andre McGowan try to escape from police?

When police executed a warrant at his home in Belconnen Road, Bestwood, Nottingham in February 2023, Andre McGowan attempted to flee by climbing out of a first-floor window wearing only his underpants. The escape attempt failed; he grazed his feet in the fall and was taken to hospital before being arrested. The incident was widely reported at the time of his sentencing.

How long is Andre McGowan’s sentence?

Andre McGowan was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Under standard sentencing provisions he would typically serve around half of this sentence in custody before being considered for release on licence, subject to the terms of the Sentencing Act 2026, which has introduced changes to release arrangements for certain categories of prisoner.

Who is Shabezz Wheeler-Spink?

Shabezz Wheeler-Spink is a co-defendant in the Vic Line drugs case. He was arrested at a separate address in Radford, Nottingham, during the same police operation that led to McGowan’s arrest in February 2023. He was found attempting to flush heroin worth approximately £10,000 down the toilet. He was sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in the drug supply operation, which lasted approximately six months.