He was told this ‘is the very last chance that you get’ after admitting new offences
A young drug dealer who narrowly avoided custody after being part of a £1.5m county lines gang ended up in trouble again for new cocaine, ketamine and cannabis offences.
Asher Buckingham was a passenger in a car that was being chased by the police when he suddenly threw two mobile phones out of a window onto a grassed embankment of the M62. They were later found and were linked to drug dealing. He had previously got caught up in two other sets of drug offences, including a county lines drugs network, Hull Crown Court heard.
Buckingham, 21, of Queensgate Street, off Boulevard, west Hull, but later of Silver Birches, Howden, admitted being concerned in supplying cocaine, ketamine and cannabis between June 22 and 26 and possessing cannabis on June 25.
Mollie Briggs, prosecuting, said that police tried to stop a BMW car on the M62 motorway between Howden and North Cave on June 25 but it sped off. Another man was the driver and Buckingham was the front seat passenger.
There was a chase and the car was driven dangerously. During the pursuit, police saw Buckingham throw two items out of the passenger window towards a grassed embankment. “The BMW came to a stop in a layby and both occupants were arrested,” said Miss Briggs.
Buckingham was searched and a grinder containing cannabis was found. A bag containing cannabis was found in his jacket. Police went to search for the items thrown from the car and they found two mobile phones and, separately, a battery and Sim card for one of them.
Buckingham’s flat was searched and found snap bags, with evidence of a white powder, and a phone with eight text messages from people asking for cannabis. He refused to provide the PIN for another phone but police managed to access it.
There were advertisements for sales of cocaine, ketamine and cannabis, sent to 82 to 92 customers at a time, using Instagram, Facebook and text messages. There was mention of £1,550 of cocaine.
“There were thousands of messages found on the phone, the vast majority relating to the supply of drugs,” said Miss Briggs. “There was significant financial advantage expected.”
Buckingham had convictions for 10 previous offences, including possessing cannabis in November 2023 and February last year. He had convictions for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine as well as possessing cannabis with intent to supply in April last year.
His most recent conviction was for possessing cannabis with intent to supply in August last year, when he was given a one-year suspended custodial sentence and 20 days’ rehabilitation. He was ordered that day to pay £700 costs.
Rachel Scott, mitigating, asked for Buckingham to be given a suspended sentence. He had suffered problems and this played a part in him being spared custody for the previous drugs offences.
He became involved in drugs again after being laid off from his work, the court heard. He was using drugs himself at the time and came into contact with people who had threatened him in the past. He built up a debt.
Buckingham was given a two-year suspended custodial sentence and 20 days’ rehabilitation. Judge Mark Bury warned him: “This is the very last chance that you get. Please take it.”
The earlier hearing in August last year was told that plainclothes police saw Buckingham riding an e-scooter along Beverley Road, Hull, at 1.45pm. He turned right into Grove Street, where a male was loitering half way down the road.
The other male spotted Buckingham on the e-scooter and walked into an alleyway, where they met up. Police stopped Buckingham and searched him. He had a bag of cannabis, which he claimed was for his own use.
Police went to Buckingham’s last known address at the time, the Terry Street hostel, and searched his room. They found a bag of green herbal cannabis, digital scales and a stash of cash. He was arrested but during police interview he made no comment to all questions.
The offences from April last year involved conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and possessing cannabis with intent to supply. He was originally given a youth rehabilitation order but that was later changed to a community order.
Those offences involved his part in a major county lines gang set up in Bradford to sell heroin and cocaine in Hull and Goole. Police had discovered a “stash house” containing drugs, scales and a gun in Newland Grove, Hull.
Hundreds of text messages from several mobile phones were analysed and police estimated that the scale of the county lines drugs network was more than £1.5m. The Newland Grove house was being used to store drugs transported from Bradford.