‘Time is fast running out for him to turn his life around’, a court heard
A heroin user who turned to drug dealing to fund his own addiction was caught red-handed after eagle-eyed undercover police spotted him involved in a furtive street exchange with another drug user. Serial troublemaker Michael Andreang had a long list of 117 previous offences but he now realised that “time is fast running out for him to turn his life around” after his life of crime, Hull Crown Court heard.
Andreang, 48, of Newland Avenue, Hull, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply on January 3. He pleaded guilty to the offence 12 days before he was due to face a trial.
Craig Lowe, prosecuting, said that plainclothes police in Goddard Avenue, west Hull, spotted a known drug user involved in a drugs exchange with Andreang. Police stopped Andreang and he was searched. He had a mobile phone, £360 cash and grip-seal bags containing Class A drugs.
A larger bag contained 4.14g of crack cocaine, which could potentially make 25 deals of £20. There were five other wraps, including four of £20 and one of £50. The total value of the drugs was £630.
Andreang was arrested at the scene. During police interview, he made mainly no comment to questions. He claimed that the drugs seized were for his own use.
He had convictions for 117 previous offences between 1991 and last year. They included offences of dishonesty, domestic burglary, violence, possessing weapons and perverting the course of justice.
He had been jailed for two years and nine months in August 2020 for possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply, with an additional nine months for handling stolen goods. His most recent conviction was in April last year for assaulting an emergency worker and possessing Class A drugs.
Jane Rapin, mitigating, said that Andreang indicated that he wanted to change his plea to guilty before a scheduled trial. It was a relatively small amount of drugs and £360 cash.
“He had no operational or management function and did not involve others,” said Miss Rapin. “He had little awareness of the scale of the operation.
“He had a limited expectation of reward apart from meeting the needs of his own habit and that of his partner at the time. He realises that time is fast running out for him to turn his life around.
“He has expressed genuine remorse and has expressed genuine sorrow and disappointment with himself for getting himself involved in drugs. He did get himself off heroin before going into custody. This has been a wake-up call.”
Andreang was jailed for three years and four months. The £360 cash seized will be forfeited and given to the Space2BHeard counselling support group.