A drug user who fell into debt was “recruited” into dealing on the streets of Hull as a way of trying to pay off the money that he owed. Peter Frame was caught by eagle-eyed police officers as he carried out a drugs exchange but, in the three years since then, he had managed to keep out of trouble, Hull Crown Court heard.
Frame, 31, of Bentley Grove, Hull, admitted being concerned in supplying cocaine and cannabis between October 19 and December 28, 2023. He also admitted possessing £4,020 cash as criminal property on December 29, 2023.
Olivia Fraser, prosecuting, said that two police officers on a routine patrol in Coltman Street, west Hull, saw what they thought was a drug deal going on. They stopped Frame and arrested him.
The prosecution accepted Frame’s basis of plea that he was a drug user at the time and had an unsettled life. He was “recruited” to sell drugs to pay off his drug debt.
Frame had no previous convictions. No mitigation was requested in court after an indication was given of the sentence to be imposed.
Judge John Thackray KC told Frame: “During 2023, you were in difficult circumstances and had never been in trouble in your life, despite having a very difficult background. Despite that difficult background, you had always kept out of trouble.”
Frame became involved in the use of drugs. “You started dealing over a long period of quite a few months,” said Judge Thackray.
“That was three years ago now and you have kept out of trouble in the meantime. The offences are so serious that it has to be a custodial sentence. The question is whether I can suspend it.”
Frame had entered late guilty pleas after earlier denying the matters. The various factors for and against suspending the sentence balanced each other out.
“I am satisfied that your risk can be managed in the community and you can be rehabilitated, partly because you have kept out of trouble for the past three years, ” said Judge Thackray. “You have got to your 30s without any trouble.”
Frame was given a suspended prison sentence of two years and eight months, with 200 hours’ unpaid work. The £4,020 cash seized will be forfeited and given to the St Paul’s boxing club charity, Hull.
Frame was warned that, if he did not commit to the order and get the unpaid work done, he faced a prison sentence. “You will be brought back to court and it’s almost certain you will serve the two years and eight months,” said Judge Thackray.
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