Mum and dad of five caught running drug enterprise
A DERBYSHIRE couple, who have five children, have been caught dealing cannabis “to family and friends”.
Derby Crown Court heard how Ryan Poynton and Natalie Webster had deals of the class B drug and more than £600 in cash when police raided their Sawley address.
Messages found on Poynton’s mobile showed he had been selling and Webster had been helping him “due to his learning difficulties”.
And the two 30-year-olds, who the court were told have children aged two to 13, were sentenced over a link which saw them appear “in court” through one of their mobile phones.
Recorder Adrian Reynolds said: “While dealing in cannabis is a serious matter this is not the most serious example of it.
“I have little doubt this was your operation, Mr Poynton, rather than your partner’s, you were supplying it to finance your own habit.
“But this dates back a year-and-ahalf and you, quite literally, have your hands full with a large family.
“Miss Webster your involvement was, in every sense, a lesser role, with you giving assistance to your partner.”
Eunice Opare-Addo, prosecuting, said police carried out a warrant at the couple’s address in Grosvenor Avenue, on June 23, 2020.
She said a search uncovered just short of 25g of cannabis worth around £200 and £630 in cash.
Miss Opare-Addo said analysis of two phones found messages on one that drugs were being sold to customers.
She said: “In interview he said the phone was his and that Miss Webster would send messages on his behalf.
“In her interview, she said she would send the messages for him.”
Both Poynton and Webster pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis.
He has five previous convictions for six offences while she is of previous good character.
Kevin Waddingham, for Poynton, said his client’s youngest son is aged just two and has a heart condition.
He said: “Their oldest son is currently being assessed for ADHD and autism and (Poynton) is also a registered carer for his father for which he receives an allowance.”
Nicola Hunter, for Webster, said her client “received no financial reward” for her involvement in the enterprise.
She said: “Her role appears to have been fielding text messages for Mr Poynton due to his learning difficulties.
“She was helping her partner out, she does not take cannabis at all.”
Recorder Reynolds handed Poynton a six-month jail sentence, suspended for a year and handed Webster a 12-month conditional discharge.
Charges of fraud, which saw Webster arrested in June 2020 on suspicion of fraud over claims she used her child’s heart condition to scam donors out of thousands of pounds, were dropped.