He had turned to street dealing in Hull in a bid to pay off a debt and ‘stay out of harm’s way’, a court heard
A crack cocaine user turned to street dealing in a desperate bid to pay off a debt that he had already accumulated – and to “stay afloat and stay out of harm’s way”. Lee Ross had been “up to no good” in the past but he fled to Hull in desperation to try to escape from his previous troubles.
He landed himself in hot water again after police spotted him making hand-to-hand drugs exchanges with users and followed him, Hull Crown Court heard. Ross, 45, of Morpeth Street, off Spring Bank, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply on November 13.
Jane Rapin, prosecuting, said that police saw a known drug user in the Wellington Lane and Hudson Street area, off Beverley Road, Hull, and alerted other officers. Ross came from the direction of Beverley Road and three people followed him down Hudson Street.
He made numerous hand-to-hand exchanges before cycling off in the opposite direction and going to Spring Bank. He went into a house in Morpeth Street and it was suspected that people were waiting for him.
Ross came out of the house and cycled towards Spring Bank. He was intercepted and knocked to the ground. A tub with a large number of drugs inside it was found as well as £83.65 cash.
Another wrap of drugs was later found while he was in custody. The total value of the heroin and cocaine was £575. “There was an expectation of significant financial advantage and the repayment of the drug debt that he had accrued,” said Miss Rapin. Ross later told police that he came to Hull from Leeds to get away from drugs but he had a drug debt. He claimed that he did not make any money from selling drugs and he was simply working to pay off the drug debt.
Ross was a crack cocaine user. He had convictions for 41 previous offences, including five for possessing drugs.
Billy Torbett, mitigating, said that Ross made full and frank admissions to the police. “His offending has been wholly unacceptable,” said Mr Torbett. “He knows that. He is immensely remorseful for his offending.
“He also assisted the police in telling them where they would find more drugs. He told the police that the drugs were heroin and cocaine. No forensic testing was needed.
“He has no convictions whatsoever for supplying drugs in the past. He turned to supplying drugs due to the debt that he had accumulated. He managed to move away from Leeds, where he accepts that he was up to no good.
“He became heavily addicted to crack cocaine. He turned to dealing for the dealer to try to reduce that debt. He was quite simply doing this to stay afloat and stay out of harm’s way.”
Ross had been in custody since November 15. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years. A total of £108.65 cash will be forfeited.