Pair jailed over £50k spice haul
STREET DEALERS ALSO HAD EQUIPMENT TO MAKE ANOTHER 5KG OF THE DRUG
A PAIR of drug dealers are behind bars for flooding the streets with a drug that has had a ‘catastrophic’ effect on communities in Manchester.
During a raid on a Tameside home in July 2020, police uncovered more than £50,000 of spice - as well as enough equipment to create another 5kg of the drug.
The property in Mottram Road, Stalybridge belonged to 30-yearold Scott Levis.
He and Jason Joyce, 26, of Burton Walk, Salford, played a ‘leading role’ in an ‘enterprise’ to produce and sell spice made at the address between May and June 2020.
The pair have now been jailed for more than a combined nine years. Prosecuting, Michael Monaghan, told Stockport crown court that Lavis was a ‘busy street dealer working for Joyce’ selling ‘thousands of pounds worth of drugs,’ while also being involved in the production of the drugs.
Recorder Abigail Hudson told the court that phones recovered from Lavis’ house showed that Joyce was the ‘controlling mind’ of the operation ‘directing your producer and street dealer Mr Lavis.’
“The community impact of this particular drug is catastrophic, there are no other words to describe the appalling impact on those who are addicted to this particular substance,” Ms Hudson said. She told Joyce that he earned ‘substantial quantities of money’ while others took the risks for him with Lavis also playing a ‘significant role.’
It was acknowledged that Lavis was under ‘pressure’ to get involved with this but that he ‘knew what he was doing’ with alternatives open to him.
As well as these offences Joyce was sentenced for aggravated vehicle taking. Lavis meanwhile was sentenced for unlawful wounding and possession of a knife.
Defending Joyce, Neil Ronan told the court that he ‘wholly accepts’ he had the leading role in the spice enterprise, pleading guilty to this and the aggravated vehicle taking.
Steve Sullivan, defending Lavis, described that ‘throughout his young life he has been beset with tragedies of a severe nature,’ such as the loss of siblings and his own child.
His mother has also recently become terminally ill with his eight months in custody having a ‘bad effect’ on him.
The court also heard that Joyce had many previous convictions for drug offences, with this drug offence being committed while he was serving a suspended sentence for drug dealing in 2019.
He also had previous convictions for aggravated vehicle taking, one in 2009 and another in 2019, with Joyce on bail for this when he committed the drugs offences. Lavis was also on bail for the ‘violent offence’ when he became a drug dealer in this enterprise.
Sentencing Lavis, Ms Hudson said he has ‘suffered an incredible amount of tragedy in his life’ but his ‘coping mechanisms are inadequate.’
Joyce was sentenced to four years and 10 months for conspiracy to supply spice and another six months for aggravated vehicle taking.
Lavis was given two years and one month for possession of and conspiracy to supply spice with another 10 months for unlawful wounding and possession of a knife.
The community impact of this drug is catastrophic Recorder Abigail Hudson