He had convictions for 90 previous offences, a court heard
Craig Watson has been jailed(Image: Humberside Police)
A drug dealer who sold crack cocaine on the streets received cheery text messages from customers saying: “Bring us a good one, mate” and “Don’t let us down, mate.” Another message from an eager punter keen to pick up some drugs asked him: “What’s going on, mate? Been retailing?”
Craig Watson had been using drugs for nearly 30 years but he now finally realised that he needed to stop doing so, Hull Crown Court heard. Watson, 48, of no fixed address, but from Hull and recently in custody on remand, admitted being concerned in supplying crack cocaine and possessing the drug on May 19.
Natalie Dean, prosecuting, said that plainclothes police in an unmarked car saw two men loitering near a park in the Clarendon Street and Alexandra Street area, west Hull. They were seemingly waiting to buy drugs and, a few minutes later, Watson cycled past, entered the park while carrying a rucksack and approached them.
He left the scene and he was followed and detained. Police searched him and a tub of crack cocaine, containing 19 wraps with a weight of 7g, was found in one trouser pocker and three wraps in the other pocket.
The total value of the haul was about £420. A mobile phone was seized and it had received a large number of calls. Another phone and two tablets were found.
Drugs messages included “Bring us a good one, mate” and “Don’t let us down, mate.” Another one said: “What’s going on, mate? Been retailing?”
Watson later told police that he had been a drug user for about 30 years. He was on benefits and had no debts.
Watson had convictions for 90 previous offences, mainly for theft and dishonesty, but 19 for drugs between 2015 and 2024. He had been jailed in 2021 for two years and four months for possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply.
Julia Baggs, mitigating, said that Watson started selling drugs to fund his own addiction. “It was a bad idea,” said Miss Baggs. “He should know better.
“He has struggled with a habit for a very long time, the vast majority of his adult life. He wants to get back to work. He has a history of working in joinery.
“He knows that he needs to get rid of drugs completely. He does well while inside (prison) but he struggles to maintain that on release.
“He knows it must be custody. He wants to continue to work to become a useful member of society on his release.”
Watson was jailed for two years.
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