Drug dealer dad smashed up his ex-partner’s car after row

A CONVICTED drug dealer, handed a chance to stay out of prison just six weeks ago, has now smashed up his expartner’s car after drinking.

A court heard that Lee Smedley had been out with his niece on the anniversary of his sister’s death in a car accident.

Returning to his former partner’s Allenton home, he then damaged her Ford Fiesta after an argument.

Now the 34-year-old faces an anxious wait to see if he will be called to Derby Crown Court as the offence put him in breach of a suspended sentence, handed to him in early July, for drugs matters.

Asif Munir, his solicitor, told Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court: “Saturday was the anniversary of the death of Mr Smedley’s sister, who died 15 years ago in a car accident. He had gone out drinking and had four pints with his niece and returned to the address where his ex-partner of eight years was.

“She has four children, one with Mr Smedley and when he returned he was in drink but not drunk and his ex-partner took issue with this. He vented his frustration on her vehicle which was parked outside.”

Asked by District Judge Andrew Meachin about the cost of the damage his client caused, Mr Munir replied: “I’m not a used car salesman, sir, but it is an 03 plate. He could have played the long game and pleaded not guilty but he didn’t.”

Lee Shepherd, prosecuting, said the offence happened in Turner Street, Allenton, at 6pm on Saturday. Officers were called to a domestic incident and found the damaged Ford Fiesta.

Mr Shepherd said: “They arrested Mr Smedley who told them he did it and would plead guilty, making full admissions. He said his relationship with his ex-partner had been good but had come to an end and they ended up having an argument.”

Mr Shepherd said the defendant, a former Bombardier worker who pleaded guilty to criminal damage, had only recently been handed a suspended sentence at Derby Crown Court for a drugs offence.

On that occasion the court heard he carried out an exchange in front of two police officers as they sat in their patrol car. One of the officers turned to the other and said “was that a drugs exchange?” before they got out and challenged Smedley.

Smedley, of Turner Street, and who was a passenger in a car, had stuffed cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy into the glove compartment. But he escaped an immediate prison sentence in part because the case took more than two years to come to court.

Suspending his two-year jail term for 18 months Judge Jonathan Bennett had said: “You were caught...bang to rights in a vehicle and although you went ‘no comment’ in your police interview you did explain that the driver had nothing to do with it.

“One thing I am not impressed with is the attitude you expressed to the probation officer, that you did not feel bad for committing the offences as you had to support your family. You felt it would be justified to spread drugs like these, including class A drugs, in the community.”

In the latest case, District Judge Andrew Meachin fined Smedley £200, ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge and told him: “This result will be sent to the crown court, they will decide whether or not to call you back in and deal with you (for the breach of the suspended sentence). It has not gone away.”