Drug dealer locked up for 4 years

data, officers were able to prove Joseph’s history of drug dealing and his frequent contact with numerous drug users in Scarborough. His offending matched the ‘county lines’ model in which dealers from outside of the area bring drugs into smaller towns.

“A mobile phone seized by officers showed over 4,000 text messages had been sent and were typical of those used to advertise drugs for sale – using drug slang and an attempt to disguise what they are selling. Of the 700 contacts on the phone, 183 of them were in the Scarborough or Filey area and 103 of them were known drug users.”

Joseph pleaded not guilty to the two charges of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and faced trial by jury at court.

On December 7, he was found guilty on the direction of Judge Hickey, who said that ‘people like you who deal Class A drugs cause misery, death and degradation.’ Investigating officer, Sergeant Steph Poole of Scarborough Response Team, said: “This was a long and complex investigation, but we will pursue drug dealers who come to our town relentlessly. “Justice has been served and the community will be safe from Luke Joseph’s criminal activities and the misery it causes.”

The court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of two mobile phones and drugs paraphernalia seized from Joseph, along with the forfeiture of £209 cash seized from him at the time of arrest. He was also ordered to pay £170 victim surcharge.