A dealer caught with thousands of pounds worth of drugs sold cocaine to fund his own habit, a court heard.
Linthorpe’s Paul French was caught by police going back and forth into a Middlesbrough property linked to drug dealing and was detained by cops. Cleveland Police found thousands of pounds worth of cocaine, as well as scales, cash and burner phones.
Prosecutor Caroline McGurk told Teesside Crown Court the incident took place on July 21, last year, at Westward Close. She said: “He was apprehended after trying to evade officers and he struggled with them. He was found to be in possession of £3,000 worth of cocaine as well as scales, cash to a value of £120 and two mobile telephones.”
The court heard the 44-year-old was interviewed but made no comment to all questions asked by police. At an earlier hearing, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine.
Ms McGurk said it isn’t the first time the defendant has appeared in the dock, he has 31 convictions for 82 offences which include eight drug offences. In 2021, the defendant was handed a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for robbery.
However, in mitigation, his barrister Tom Bennett said he admitted the offence and should be given credit for his plea. He also said his client was using drugs at the time following the break down of a long-standing relationship.
Mr Bennett said: “He regrettably turned back to previous habits and his addiction reached quite a heavy point. He accepts he was supplying onto others but the main reason for doing that was to fund his own habit.”
Judge Joanne Kidd handed the Addison Road defendant a 38-month prison sentence.
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