Drugs spilled out from a drug dealer’s jacket when eagle-eyed police officers spotted him and chased him. They later found over £1,000 of cocaine in a satchel that he was carrying around the Orchard Park estate in Hull, a court heard.
Anthony Hopkins, 43, formerly of Leonard Street, off Beverley Road, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply on April 21. He had previously been jailed for five years and eight months in February 2024 and he was on licence when officers saw him on the estate.
Harry Bradford, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that officers were on patrol at about 2.30pm when they spotted Hopkins, near to a drug den known to police. He ran off but was captured, despite resisting against the officers, who used handcuffs.
In the tussle, drugs dropped from his jacket. The officers later searched his satchel and found wraps of cocaine of 80 per cent purity. The drugs had a street value of £1,140.
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A set of scales and a mobile phone were also seized by police. The evidence from the phone showed that he was selling drugs on behalf of another person.
Hopkins had convictions for 96 previous offences. It was his fourth time caught selling Class A drugs.
Michael Masson, mitigating, said that Hopkins had been beset by drug addiction and he was constantly paying off debt. Judge John Thackray KC said: “He is ruining his life as well as the lives of others. He’s serving life in instalments.”
Judge Thackray told Hopkins: “You seem determined to ruin your life and that of others and their communities.” Hopkins played a significant role as a dealer and there was an expectation of significant financial advantage.
Hopkins was jailed for six years.
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