A ketamine “addict” ended up running Class A drugs and cash and managing a dealer to pay off a debt.
Lennon Stagg, 22, of Brereton Close, Castlefields, Runcorn, appeared for sentence at Chester Crown Court sitting in magistrates’ court on Thursday, April 27, having pleaded guilty to separate counts of possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine. He also admitted simple possession Class B ketamine
Gareth Roberts, prosecuting, said police had arrested Joanne Currie, 51, on February 20 after they saw her "handing over drugs in return for money", prompting them to search Currie’s flat. They found Stagg in the kitchen of the property, on Brereton Close, in addition to 54 knotted bags of crack worth £540 and 46 knotted bags of heroin worth £460, all prepared for "onward supply".
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Stagg had £325 in cash, along with a small amount of ketamine and a phone that showed messages exchanged with Stagg that were "clearly indicative of his involvement in the supply of drugs".
The court heard that in one message, Stagg’s boss messaged him and said Currie would have to work for free, saying: "Her head had gone and tomorrow she’ll have to graft for nothing."
Stagg had convictions for five previous offences and none for drug supply.
Myles Wilson, defending, said Stagg had not been in charge of Currie and instead they had been "equals" working under the same "boss".
He said Stagg’s job was to "look after the drugs and she was going out on the street and selling it".
Mr Wilson said Stagg had a difficult background.
He said: "It’s a sad and familiar account of someone being brought up by violent drug addicts, taken into care - different foster families, different areas, education being disrupted, being isolated, having issues with his temper, there’s a suggestion of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), committing offences, released from prison in December 2021, homeless, becomes addicted to ketamine, builds up a debt and ends up working for his dealer and that’s what he was doing in Runcorn in February this year."
Mr Wilson added Stagg "wants to change - he wants to have a normal life" and is taking courses in custody with a view to obtaining qualifications and working in technology such as with websites and creative design.
Recorder Steven Everett increased Stagg’s sentence from the baseline "starting point" for supplying Class A drugs, before bringing it back down for his guilty pleas, background and efforts to gain an education in prison, ultimately sending him down for three years, minus time on remand.
There was no separate penalty for possessing ketamine.
Recorder Everett said Stagg would have brought the drugs to Currie’s flat, she would go out and sell them, bring the money back to Stagg and he in turn would pass it on to their boss.
He described Stagg’s transition from using to dealing drugs as "depressingly familiar".
Recorder Everett said: "What you did is depressingly familiar.
"Obviously drugs are supplied nationwide, Cheshire has its drug problem like everywhere else, and what happens is those higher up in the chain give drugs to people they’re prepared to trust, probably with a mixture of threats and promises.
"It’s all depressingly familiar."
He added: "Those involved in drugs see there’s nothing good about it.
"Everybody loses.
"Those who take heroin and cocaine - heroin addicts looking like walking skeletons, cocaine addicts doing irreparable damage to their bodies, their noses caving in, God knows what’s going on inside."
Recorder Everett urged Stagg to turn away from drugs and crime, telling him: "I’m encouraged to hear you’re making some real efforts in custody.
"This is your real chance to get away from it, if you don’t it’s a pretty depressing life ahead of you."
Recorder Everett ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and phone, surcharge and collection order, and for the cash to go to Cheshire Police’s chief constable to fund "fighting drug crime".
The court heard that Currie’s case had been sent to Liverpool Crown Court.
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