Boxes of tablets, a baton and a metal bat, cash, a Taser, an electric knuckleduster and a box of Avon catalogues were found in couple’s car after customer’s death
A drug-dealing woman used her former work as an Avon catalogue representative as a crafty code for delivering tablets to a female customer – telling her each time “Your Avon is here.” The Avon connection was seemingly used as a “mask” and a “method of delivery” to drug users – and police found a box of Avon catalogues in her car, Hull Crown Court heard.
Tina Lewis, 48, and her boyfriend, Luke Bilton, 36, both of Boulton Grove, off Southcoates Avenue, east Hull, but both recently in custody on remand, each admitted possessing diazepam and Zoplicone with intent to supply and possessing a knuckleduster as an offensive weapon. Bilton also admitted possessing a metal knuckleduster and an extendable baton as offensive weapons and Lewis also admitted possessing heroin.
Samantha Laws, prosecuting, said that a woman was taken to hospital on May 31 after an incident in which she stopped breathing. A suspected drug overdose was believed to have been the cause and she later died.
It could not be said for certain that the supply of drugs by Lewis and Bilton was the cause of her death but her son told the police that his mother was supplied by Lewis and Bilton. This had been going on for about three years and Lewis would say: “Your Avon is here.”
Lewis and Bilton were circulated by police as wanted. Lewis was seen driving a car, with Bilton the passenger, and they were arrested. Boxes of tablets, including diazepam and Zoplicone, were found as well as, in a glove box, a baton and a metal bat.
There was £40 cash, a Taser, an electric knuckleduster and a box of Avon catalogues. At their Boulton Grove home, more diazepam and Zoplicone were found as well as £700 cash inside a plastic bag hidden behind a mounted photograph on the wall.
A mobile phone contained stored contacts with their first name and “pills”. There were references to drug supply and pills being bought from abroad via Mumbai Airport.
Bilton told police that the woman who died was a friend of Lewis. He added that Lewis used to be an Avon representative but not for some time. Lewis claimed that the woman’s death was nothing to do with her but she knew her very well.
Lewis had convictions for 26 previous offences between April 2008 and April 1990, including six drug offences. She had been jailed in 2004 for three-and-a-half years for Class A drug dealing. Bilton had convictions for six previous offences but none for drugs.
Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that it was a street dealing operation but there was no evidence that the Avon business was being used as a cover. “This was not commercial scale,” said Mr Shipley.
Lewis took a “damaging backwards step” when she did not have the strength to stay away from illicit drugs after earlier keeping off them. “She had relapsed,” said Mr Shipley.
“She was back taking drugs.” The heroin that was found on her was for her own use. She had been in custody on remand for about six months but she had been giving negative drug tests.
Ben Hammersley, representing Bilton, said that there was no evidence to show a link between the woman’s death and him. He was buying drugs from some sort of pharmaceutical business in another country.
“The Avon catalogue business appears to have been a mask and a method of delivery,” said Mr Hammersley. The knuckledusters were not used to threaten or cause fear to anyone.
“He is deeply sorry,” said Mr Hammersley. “He has been out of trouble for a long time.” Bilton’s drug use spiralled. He had been in custody on remand for just under six months and he had been giving negative drug tests.
Lewis was given a 22-month suspended prison sentence, six months’ drug rehabilitation and 20 days’ rehabilitation. Bilton was given an 18-month suspended sentence, 15 days’ rehabilitation and a three-month monitoring order.