Derby Telegraph

Man turned to dealing after losing job

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A FORMER security guard at Derby Bus Station was hiding wraps of crack cocaine between his buttocks when police searched him.

Derby Crown Court heard how Sebastian Howell lost his job when a new firm took over a contract and he had to declare his criminal record.

The 27-year-old’s loss of income meant he also lost his home, so he went back to selling drugs on the streets of the city.

Sarah Slater, prosecutin­g, said police were on observatio­ns in the Stockbrook area of the city when they spotted Howell seemingly making an exchange with a known drug user on November 23 last year.

She said: “He is seen to go back to a flat in Abbey Street and then returns back on the street where another exchange takes place.

“One of the officers approaches the defendant, but he pushes him away and runs off throwing a ‘burner’ phone and wraps of what are later found to be crack cocaine.

“He was chased and detained a short time later and searched where it was found he had a significan­t amount of drugs concealed in his trousers and between his buttocks.”

Miss Slater said a search of the Abbey Street flat found more wraps of crack cocaine, heroin and cocaine.

Also discovered was almost £2,000 in cash, digital scales and other parapherna­lia associated with drug dealing.

Miss Slater said: “The phone which he threw was analysed and found to contain mass marketing messages offering different types of drugs for sale. In total there were 56 wraps of heroin, 49 wraps of crack cocaine and two larger amounts of crack cocaine which could be divided down to make more money.

“There was also £250 to £300 of cocaine, the total value of all the drugs being in the region of £1,760.”

Howell, of Becket Street, Derby, pleaded guilty to three counts of possession with intent to supply class A substances.

Jailing him for 44 months, Recorder Martin Hurst said: “You did have a job, but tragically a new operator took over and your criminal record was checked.

“When they found out you had a criminal record they sacked you, you lost your accommodat­ion, you went back to sofa-surfing and returned to your old ways.”

Matthew Cullen, mitigating, said his client pleaded guilty at the earliest available opportunit­y.

He said: “He was not dealing to fund a flash or lavish lifestyle.

“He had been working as a security guard at Derby Bus Station, but when a new company took over they carried out DBS checks and discovered he had a previous drug dealing conviction.

“He lost his job, got into rent arrears and as a result he resorted to what he knew.”

 ??  ?? Sebastian Howell
Sebastian Howell

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