He had previously been jailed for making threats to kill and possessing cannabis with intent to supply
A drug dealer who started selling heroin and crack cocaine on the streets later claimed that he was forced to do it because he got the blame for a £40,000 cocaine-and-cash haul being stolen from a drugs storehouse. The violent drug dealers “wanted their money back” – and there was a “£10,000 bounty on his head” – but he claimed that he was not involved in the raid, Hull Crown Court heard.
Liam Knott, 33, of west Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and possessing £2,600 cash as criminal property on July 8. Michael Masson, prosecuting, said that, early this year, police became aware of a “Rico” drug dealing line in east Hull.
Bulk text messages were sent advertising drugs for sale. Police saw Knott and his girlfriend in a car and it stopped in Kedrum Road, east Hull. They went inside a house.
The car and the house were searched. Police found 44g of crack cocaine, with a street value of £4,400, in the car. There was also 4g of heroin, valued at £200, in the car.
In the house, where he seemed to live with his girlfriend, cash bundles of £1,800 and £800 were found – the proceeds of crime. During police interview, Knott made no comment to questions.
He had convictions for 37 previous offences, including being jailed for two years and eight months in January last year for making a threat to kill on June 17, 2023. He had also been jailed for six months for possessing cannabis with intent to supply.
Molly Minter, mitigating, said that Knott claimed that he was forced into the drug dealing after threats were made to kill him and members of his family after a £40,000 cocaine-and-cash haul was stolen from a drugs gang, who blamed him. “He was contacted by these individuals, who wanted their money back,” said Miss Minter.
“There was a £10,000 bounty on his head. Death threats were made to him. He was scared of reprisals. He had a debt because he was caught in something that he should not have been involved in, in the first place.
“He should have gone to the police. He never should have let it get to this situation and get out of control.” There had been an “armed burglary” at his home the day before the offences, involving eight to 10 people people, Knott claimed.
They were armed with knives and smashed the door down, it was claimed. Knott was homeless at the age of 13 and sleeping on the streets. “His father used to take him to assist in house robberies,” said Miss Minter. “His biggest fear is that he is going to repeat the mistakes that his father made. He wants to be able to turn his life around.”
Knott was jailed for two years and three months. The £2,600 cash seized will be forfeited and given to the Space2BHeard project.
At the hearing in January last year, the court was told that Knott targeted a terrified woman with a “savage” 18-inch curved knife and warned her that he was was going to kill her if she went to the police. He admitted an offence of making a threat to kill on June 17, 2023.
The court heard that Knott and the woman knew each other and they met through her sister. He had previously stayed at her house. She was asleep at home when, at about 12.15am, she was disturbed by Knott sticking his head through her window.
She got out of bed and ran out of the house through the front door. The woman ran into another man, who had a plank of wood in his hands. She fell to the ground and curled up in a ball.
The second man grabbed hold of her and Knott arrived. She got to her feet and tried to run to her next-door neighbour’s bungalow but Knott pursued her.
He approached her with an 18-inch curved knife, held her against her neighbour’s gate and said: “I am going to kill you if you ring the police. Keep my name out of your mouth.” Knott slapped her around the head before he and the second man rode away on their bicycles.