A teenage drug dealer has been detained in custody after he was caught with high purity cocaine and heroin.
The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found with 83 wraps of crack cocaine, along with cash hidden in a game box.
After executing a search warrant at an address in Salford, officers found 28 wraps of heroin, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Read more:
They also found two mobile phones - an iPhone and a Nokia - which contained messages between the lad and potential customers.
On one phone, he’d sent a message to 93 contacts which read: “Popcorn - have the best of both all night”.
The boy pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin, cocaine and cannabis, as well as possession of criminal cash.
On Friday (August 13), he was handed an 18-month youth detention and training order.
Prosecuting, Robert Elias said that on December 2 last year police searched an address on Strawberry Road where they found the boy and another man.
“In the defendant’s bedroom officers found a plastic bag containing 83 wraps of cocaine, £1,500 in cash and in the living room there were 2 wraps of heroin, £190 in cash and two mobile phones,” she said.
“The cocaine, when tested, had 88% purity, as opposed to 44% of normal street strength.
“A police expert estimated that the cocaine was worth £830, and the heroin was worth £280 at £10 a deal.
“The drugs were already packaged for street sale.”
The phones were seized and analysed and showed evidence of drug dealing, the court heard.
In one message he offered ‘10 wraps for £120’, which was said to be supplying to a street dealer who was down the chain under him.
In another message chain he offered to supply cocaine, and on another, a customer asked the price for an eighth of a gram.
On November 30 he sent a message to 93 contacts, reading: “Popcorn - have the best of both all night”, in what prosecutors described as an ‘advertisement’ for drugs.
The message was sent from a phone which was ‘exclusive for drug dealing’.
The teenager was said to have one previous conviction for robbery.
Mitigating, Michael Laverty said his client is a ‘realistic young man’.
“We have had a conference earlier this week and it seems to me this had to be a custodial sentence,” he said.
“He is not trying to blame others, he has been frank in his admissions.
“He was 16 at the time, he is 17 now.
“On his arrest he was kept in induction for three weeks, and was locked up for 23-and-a-half hours a day.
“Since, his behaviour has been excellent and he was put on the gold wing due to his improvement.”
Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Lasker: “You were supplying street dealers in the hierarchy below you.
“It’s concerning. Only time will tell how events will develop in the future - at the present time things look very bleak.
“There is no doubt in my mind that if you were an adult and convicted after trial, you would receive a sentence in excess of five years.
“But, I have to take into account your age and your maturity.
“I do not think you had been led by others, more that you allowed yourself and that you were very keen to get involved in criminal behaviour.”
The 17-year-old was handed an 18-month youth detention and training order.
See the latest court and crime news in your area by receiving email updates.
.png?w=600)
