A cocaine dealer who was found with more than £4,000 cash later pretended that some of the money came from his winnings on gaming machines that night – and the rest was just savings, Hull Crown Court heard. Aiden Roberts, 27, of Volage Court, Pocklington, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply on March 22 last year.
Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, prosecuting, said that police were on their way to the McDonald’s restaurant in Shiptonthorpe, near Market Weighton, at 3am when they were waved down by members of the public reporting Roberts for unrelated matters. Roberts began to run away and he was pursued by police for a short distance.
He was arrested and searched and more than £1,000 cash was found on him. A bag of cocaine and two mobile phones were found.
The Pocklington address that he provided was searched and a woman there confirmed that he had been living there in a spare bedroom. Scales and snap bags were found in the bedroom and cash, said by Roberts to be about £4,000, was found in a shoe box.
During police interview, he claimed that he had not supplied any drugs but had simply taken some himself that evening. “He claimed that some of the cash he had with him was savings and that he intended to spend the money that night,” said Miss Kioko-Gilligan.
“Some of the cash, he said, he had won that night on gaming machines.” The drugs equipment belonged to someone else and the £4,000 was his savings, he claimed.
Drug dealing messages included “Active.” Roberts had a previous conviction for possessing cannabis in October last year.
Holly Thompson, mitigating, said that Roberts pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. “There was clearly an expectation of significant financial gain,” said Miss Thompson.
“There were others higher than the defendant in the chain.” The money would have gone to towards his own drug use. Roberts was remorseful and he wanted to get help.
“He is deeply ashamed of his actions,” said Miss Thompson. “He looks back on the person he was then and can’t recognise himself. He acknowledges shame for his behaviour.
“Drugs were normalised in his childhood due to his mother and father’s consumption. He became a drug user himself.
“The offending was not only to fund his personal habit but his lifestyle. He is a low risk of reoffending.”
Recorder Richard Wright KC said that Roberts had cash and “all the trappings of a drug dealer” at his home. “You were dealing cocaine, a Class A controlled drug, and you were doing it for profit,” said Recorder Wright.
“This was essentially your own drug dealing operation that you were conducting for your own purposes in order to make money. From the money that was confiscated from you, a profitable business it was too.”
Roberts was given a suspended prison sentence of two years and 10 months, with 20 days’ rehabilitation. The £4,718 cash seized will be forfeited and given to the police.
“I am giving you a chance,” said Recorder Wright. “I think there are signs that you can keep out of trouble and behave yourself and make something of your life.”
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