His barrister said: ‘There is not much positive that can be said on this defendant’s behalf’
Police caught a cannabis dealer red-handed after spotting him brazenly selling drugs from his car during two separate street transactions. He was desperate to raise money to pay off a debt, Hull Crown Court heard.
Gentian Kurti, 32, of no fixed address, but recently in custody on remand, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply on June 6. He also admitted possessing £162 cash as criminal property.
Gareth Henderson-Moore, prosecuting, said that undercover police spotted Kurti dealing drugs from a Ford Mondeo car in Falmouth Street, Hull. There were two separate transactions in different places. He was stopped and his car – and him – were searched.
A large quantity of cannabis, with a total weight of 145g, was found. There was £141 cash in the car and an extra £21 on him. A mobile phone showed drug-related messages, indicating supply between May 14 and June 16.
Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said: “There is not much positive that can be said on this defendant’s behalf. He knows that it will be an immediate custodial sentence.”
Kurti would, in November, have been living in this country for three years. He was originally from Albania but he had been living at an address in Spring Bank, Hull.
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“At the time – while not minimising the seriousness of the offences – he owed a drug debt to those who helped him travel to the United Kingdom,” said Mr Shipley. “In order to pay off that debt, he turned to the supply of cannabis. There is nothing particularly sophisticated about this offence.”
Judge John Thackray KC told Kurti that the offences happened within weeks of him being spared prison for a similar drugs offence. “Drugs supply causes devastation in our communities,” said Judge Thackray. “This was no doubt for financial gain. I am not satisfied that your risk can be managed in the community or that you can be rehabilitated. Only appropriate punishment can be achieved by way of an immediate custodial sentence.”
Kurti was jailed for 16 months. A deprivation order was made on the car. The £162 cash seized will be forfeited and given to the St Paul’s boxing club charity.