A serial heroin and crack cocaine dealer with an “appalling” record of drugs supply offences was not deterred by four previous prison sentences – but he has finally now vowed: “I will never sell drugs again.” Repeat criminal Martin Southall was spotted meeting two drugs users at a notorious “hot-spot” while running his own “dedicated” drugs line, Hull Crown Court heard.
Southall, 44, of Ryde Street, off Beverley Road, Hull, admitted possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply on August 13. He also admitted possessing £570 cash as criminal property.
Oliver Shipley, prosecuting, said that plainclothes police in an unmarked car saw two known drug users walking along and repeatedly checking their mobile phones in Hall Road, north Hull, at about 9.20am. They turned into a footpath, known to be a “hot-spot” for drug dealing.
Police recognised Southall cycling towards the two men before he stopped. He later cycled into the path of the police and he was stopped and searched.
Southall had two mobile phones and one of them was ringing constantly. A caller wanted to know: “You on?” – meaning whether he was selling drugs. There were two missed calls from that person.
Southall had £570 cash on him. He refused to provide PINs for the phones. At the police station, he was strip-searched but he refused to squat properly and he was warned that force might have to be used.
He reached into the rear of his boxer shorts and pulled out a plastic bag of drugs. He told police: “Here. F***ing have it, then.”
There were 42 street deals of heroin, valued at £480, and 52 of crack cocaine, valued at £940 – a total of £1,420. “The defendant was operating a street-level operation,” said Mr Shipley.
“He set up and ran his own line.” Southall had convictions for 86 previous offences between May 1998 and July last year, including robbery, burglary, 35 theft-related and eight for drugs offences.
It was the fifth time that he had been convicted of drugs supply. He was jailed for four years in August 2011, for three years in August 2014, for 2,044 days in August 2017 and for six years in December 2024.
Jane Rapin, mitigating, said that Southall pleaded guilty and gave a frank account in police interview. “He is fully aware that he faces a lengthy custodial sentence in this case,” said Miss Rapin.
“He fully accepts that his offending is entirely down to his own decision-making. He is where he is through nobody’s fault but his own. He apologises to the court.
“He says that categorically ‘I will never sell drugs again’. He has never actually said that before. He understands the position he is in.”
Recorder Taryn Turner told Southall: “This is the fifth occasion on which you have been convicted of Class A drug trafficking offences. Previous lengthy custodial sentences have failed to deter you from serious offending.
“This is not an isolated lapse. You were operating a dedicated drugs telephone. You have an appalling record for trafficking Class A drugs.”
Southall was jailed for six years. The £570 cash seized will be forfeited and given to the Space2BHeard mental health services project, Hull.
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