Teen drug dealer was selling heroin and crack cocaine

A TEENAGE drug dealer from Derbyshire bragged on messages to his customers that he had “a runner” who would bring them what they ordered.

Derby Crown Court heard Ben Blakeley was selling heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and other illegal substances for a dealer further up the chain, and who was directing him from prison.

The now 19-year-old, who was 17 at the time, was interviewed a number of times by police as to whether or not he was selling, but his barrister told the hearing he was “too scared to admit he was”.

Handing him a 22-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, Recorder Penelope Stanistreet-Keen said: “This was far too sophisticated for you to have set up by yourself. You were sending out mass marketing messages and you were doing it for someone who was in prison.

“However, I feel there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation for you.”

Sarah Slater, prosecuting, said the investigation began when police went to the defendant’s home in Matlock on October 1, 2020. He told them he had some cannabis, and a search revealed a number of mobile phones and bags of the class B drug.

Miss Slater said: “The police expert says there are 158 pages of messages which show he was involved in the sale of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin LSD, ketamine and cannabis for around a four month period.

“There were messages he was working for others and talk about him having a runner, offering drugs ‘on tick.’ There was also someone called ‘Tom’ who was in prison and who was directing him.”

Blakeley, of Morledge, admitted supplying class A and B drugs and theft of a bank card. This was found in his room during the search.

Sonal Ahya, mitigating, said said: “What is clear from the evidence is that the police had their suspicions he was involved in drugs and perhaps he was doing it for someone else. Questions were asked of him as to whether he was being threatened or was being put under pressure.

“As a teenager he struggled to come to terms with his father’s death and pushed back. He rebelled in a number of ways and became involved in a group which had a negative effect on him. His brother owns a building company in the Manchester area and there is an offer of work which would give him a fresh start away from the area.”

As part of the suspended sentence Blakeley, who has no previous convictions of any kind, must do 150 hours’ unpaid work and attend 20 rehabilitation sessions with the probation service.