Son who lured mother into drug dealing jailed in Wiltshire

Victoria Howe, who was sentenced under the name Victoria Marshall, 55, and Trystan Marshall, 32, both of Crescent Road, Bulford, were sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, September 18, following a police raid on their home in June.

Police attended the address on June 18, where they spotted Trystan Marshall as he was leaving the property. He was arrested in an alleyway and was found with an iPhone and more than £700 in cash.

Victoria Marshall was arrested inside the house, and her phone was seized. A search of the utility room uncovered 548g of cannabis and 13g of cocaine, along with drug scales and paraphernalia.

Officers also found £11,870 in bundled cash notes and a further £1,485 in Victoria Marshall’s bedside table. The cocaine was valued at approximately £1,040.

Searches of both defendants’ phones revealed messages relating to drug supply, with Trystan Marshall’s device containing several communications about drugs and supply, while Victoria Marshall’s phone showed messages about dropping off drugs, counting money and references to “the business”.

Victoria Marshall (Image: Wiltshire Police)

Trystan Marshall previously pleaded guilty to five counts covering offences between March 3 and June 18, 2026, including:

• Possession with intent to supply cocaine (Class A)
• Possession with intent to supply cannabis (Class B)
• Being concerned in the supply of cocaine
• Being concerned in the supply of cannabis
• Acquiring, using or possessing criminal property (cash) under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

Victoria Marshall previously entered guilty pleas to two counts at a plea and trial preparation hearing at Salisbury Crown Court in July 2026:

• Being concerned in the supply of cannabis (Class B)
• Being concerned in the supply of cocaine

Trystan Marshall (Image: Wiltshire Police)

Both were committed to Winchester Crown Court for sentence, with Trystan Marshall remanded in custody and Victoria Marshall released on conditional bail with a curfew and police reporting requirements.

In sentencing, his Honour Judge Christopher Parker KC told the pair: “In the early part of this year, you managed to bring significant trouble to people who were addicted to serious drugs, and you have brought misery to your large family, to your children Miss Marshall and to your siblings, Trystan Marshall. There must be immediate prison sentences.”

Trystan Marshall, who has three previous convictions for four offences including prior drug supply offences in 2017 and 2024, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

Judge Parker said the sentence would have been six years but for his guilty pleas.

Addressing Trystan Marshall, the judge said: “It seems to me highly likely that she would not have become involved in this operation but for your effectively drawing her in to it.

"The dealing you were effectively doing was to other users, as you yourself were using drugs at this time.”

Seized drugs (Image: Wiltshire Police)

Victoria Marshall, who has eight prior convictions prior to 1996, but none for drug supply, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

The judge said her sentence would have been four years but for her guilty pleas.

Her defence counsel, Mr Tom Wilkins, told the court she was “more of an employee than a manager” and that the operation “wasn’t her business so to speak”.

He highlighted her significant family caring responsibilities, recent bereavements and the impact of an abusive marriage on her mental health, arguing there was “a realistic chance that she can be rehabilitated”.

Judge Parker noted Victoria Marshall had been “a strong and stable influence within your family, provided significant support to your children and grandchildren in the past”, but added:

“The miserable aspect of this is your poor choices have brought further misery to them.”

He ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the telephones and drugs under section 18 of the relevant legislation.

The case was prosecuted by CPS Wessex, with Lucy Conroy appearing for the prosecution. Trystan Marshall was represented by Mr Thomas Acworth, while Victoria Marshall was represented by Mr Tom Wilkins.

Seized cash (Image: Wiltshire Police)

Trustan Marshall appeared via audio link and Victoria Marshall appeared in person, wearing a black-and-white striped blouse.

PC Ellie Lewis, of the Neighbourhood Tasking Team, said: "The impact of illegal drugs on our communities cannot be underestimated, which is why we are committed to making Wiltshire a hostile environment for those involved in this type of criminality.

"Officers from the Neighbourhood Tasking Team and across Wiltshire continue to work proactively to target those responsible for drug dealing and other high-harm offences, bringing offenders before the courts and helping to keep our communities safe.

"This sentencing demonstrates that drug-related offending will not be tolerated in Wiltshire."