A young drug dealer who was found with cocaine, Ecstasy and a large haul of cash has continued his prison-defying Houdini escape act for a third time – despite his casual and “flippant” approach to a court order.
Lewis Brown was criticised for originally having “an attitude” towards complying with the terms of a suspended prison sentence but he now finally realised that he needed to “put his shoulder to the wheel” and get himself out of the “very precarious position” that he had put himself in, Hull Crown Court heard.
Brown, 24, of Wormley Court, off Ellerburn Avenue, north Hull, admitted possessing cocaine and Ecstasy with intent to supply, possessing a large amount of money as criminal property and possessing cannabis on August 10 last year.
James O’Connor, prosecuting, said that Brown had, at a hearing on October 10 last year, been given a 10-month suspended prison sentence, 180 hours’ unpaid work, six months’ drug rehabilitation and 15 days’ rehabilitation.
The offences came to light after police approached a vehicle, which Brown was inside, in Paragon Street, Hull. A search revealed the drugs and the large stash of cash, although the exact amount of the money was not known.
Brown had already been back in court since then for breaching the order but, on that occasion, he avoided having the suspended sentence activated. He later failed to attend for unpaid work sessions and there had been no explanation at the time for him missing appointments with the probation service.
Judge Richard Woolfall said: “He appeared to have an attitude at one point – saying ‘Just breach me’ – but he appears to have re-engaged since then.” It was now his second breach of the order. He had been given another chance after the first breach. Brown had even been offered unpaid work sessions to complete online, instead of turning out in person, but he had not done these.
Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, mitigating, said: “The defendant knows that he is in a very precarious position. He doesn’t want the court to think that he has simply been ignoring the order.” Brown claimed that he was “unable to log on” for the online work sessions and that he contacted the probation service, which provided him with a second set of log-in details.
“He accepts that his attitude was somewhat flippant,” said Miss Kioko-Gilligan. “He was trying to make everything work and was struggling. The defendant became very frustrated. He has lost his job through sheer stupidity.
“He has completed other requirements of the order and his life is changing. He has his own accommodation. He just needs to put his shoulder to the wheel.”
Judge Woolfall told Brown: “You are lucky. I thought I was going to activate the suspended sentence. I am pleased to see that you have re-engaged. Keep concentrating on making progress. I am promising that, if you come back a third time, no judge will do anything other than you go through that door at the back.”
Brown was ordered to complete the rest of the order – or face being jailed.