A 29-year-old man caught dealing Class A drugs was described as “unbelievably stupid” by a judge at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after narrowly avoiding jail.
Lovestruck Nathan Dean started using cocaine when he began dating a woman 12 years older than him. And from there, he ended up dealing drugs to fund their combined habit, reports the Stoke Sentinel.
He was caught by police dealing to two men in a Skoda parked on Bycars Road in Burslem, and subsequently pleaded guilty to possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply. But Judge Sally Hancox was persuaded to suspend his prison sentence and told Dean that he had avoided prison by “the width of a hair on his head”.
Prosecutor Ian Ball said: “He was searched and two wraps of cocaine were found in this trouser pocket. He also had a mobile phone and £260 in cash.
“He was arrested and taken to his home in Scotia Road. His home and his VW Golf were searched.
“Two sets of scales and spare deal bags were seized from inside the house. Seven wraps of cocaine were seized from the car.”
The court heard the nine deals recovered had a value of between £320 and £360. The mobile phone was examined and revealed messages that indicated he had been supplying drugs, including some from his girlfriend who was in his contact list as ‘My Lady’.
Dean was “unusually honest and frank” in his police interview, when he admitted what he had been doing. He told officers he would buy a quantity of cocaine every week and ‘“double his money” by selling it on.
Dean, of Scotia Road, Burslem, went on to enter a guilty plea. The court heard he had no other convictions other than a motoring matter in 2014.
Jason Holt, mitigating, said: “At the time he started this relationship he rarely went out, just to play pool at the local pub. That’s where he met this person.
“Her charms seem to have overtaken him. He got into the relationship not realising what he was getting into.
“When he did realise, it was too late. He went along with something he normally wouldn’t and he is highly unlikely to be before the court again.”
Mr Holt said that since Dean’s arrest in August 2021, the relationship has ended and Dean has got back on the straight and narrow. He continued: “He is now leading a law-abiding life.
“He has a new partner. He is working full time and there is a reference from his employer that speaks very highly of him.”
With Dean’s parents watching on, Judge Hancox handed him a two-year prison sentence, but said she was prepared to suspend it for two years. He must complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 150 hours unpaid work.
The judge told him: “You are supported by your parents who must be astounded that you find yourself in these circumstances. You are clearly someone intelligent who has something about you.
“You are also unbelievably stupid for having involved yourself in this type of activity. If you had not encountered this individual, you and I may never have met and your parents would have never had to suffer the distress of coming to court with you today.
“You have come the width of a hair on your head to going to custody today.”
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