‘A plague on the city centre’
JUDGE BLASTS DRUG DEALERS AFTER WOMAN CAUGHT ON CCTV SELLING SPICE
A judge said drug dealing is a ‘plague on the city centre’ after a woman was caught ‘red handed’ selling Spice in Piccadilly Gardens.
Tammy McDonagh, of Beswick, was captured on CCTV with ‘ two black eyes’ selling the synthetic drug with another man in Piccadilly Gardens in January 2018.
At Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Simone Flynn said the 30-year-old was then arrested in Burger King.
“She was in possession of a black rucksack. Within it the police recovered a large quantity of Spice (47 grams), which is worth around £470.”
She also had around 11 grams of cannabis on her – worth around £110, the court heard. It was ‘quite clear’ from the CCTV that McDonagh, of Charlesworth Street, and another man were ‘dealing drugs’, Ms Flynn added.
The man, who will be sentenced at a later date, was ‘ clearly seen to take items out of her rucksack, and hand them to another individual’.
McDonagh pleaded guilty at the first opportunity in court to one count of possession with intent to supply a synthetic cannabinoid (Spice) and one count of possession with intent to supply cannabis.
Defending, Katherine Pierpoint said that since the incident ‘she has remained completely out of trouble, and is no longer in a relationship with the co-accused: “She is taking a caring responsibility for not only her parents but her son.”
Judge Anthony Cross QC, said he was ‘satisfied that (McDonagh) had a lesser role.’
He said: “You were caught red handed playing a subordinate role in dealing drugs in Piccadilly Gardens. In this court, anybody who does that in Piccadilly Gardens, irrespective of their role and background, goes to jail.
“The reason for that is drug dealing is... a plague on the city centre. Particularly so in Piccadilly Gardens.”
During the sentence hearing, Judge Cross questioned why it had taken so long for the public to see ‘justice’.
He said: “It’s an open and shut case.
There is overwhelming evidence. Why did it take from January 2018 to October 2020 for the public to see justice done? It’s a disgrace... it’s not far off three years.
“It’s taken the best part of 2020 for justice to be delivered, that’s completely unacceptable.”
But, he said the delay had had one benefit – as McDonagh had shown she had learned her lesson by staying out of trouble since the offence.
“The best test of whether someone has learned their lesson is how they behave after they have been caught... you have behaved yourself,” He said:
“The defendant has demonstrated she can live life in a law-abiding way.”
He said he would be ‘failing in his public duty’ if he was to send her to prison.
“It would be wrong to do so, I’m not going to do so.
“But this offence is so serious crosses the custody threshold.”
The judge sentenced her to one month in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered her to attend a women’s problem solving court.
“May I remind you that if you commit an offence you will go to jail,” He told her.
“Stay away from people who are likely to lead you into trouble.” it