Dealer said he sold drug to ‘get money for his children’

SUSPENDED JAIL TERM AFTER MAMBA AND CASH WAS FOUND

A MAMBA dealer dumped his drugs and a mobile phone and tried to hide in a car park as the police closed in.

Daniel Lawrence, 33, of Beckley Road on the Broxtowe Estate, was near Halifax Place, in the Lace Market, on August 6, 2019, when he tried to resist arrest.

Nottingham Crown Court was told that when a police officer took out his CS spray, Lawrence turned away and he was taken to the floor.

His address was searched and 115.98 grams of cannabis, valued between £231 and £335.50m, was found. £1,241.41 in cash was also recovered

Lawrence had previous convictions for burglary, possessing an imitation firearm and robbery. He had nothing on his record since 2012 and nothing for drugs.

He was on licence at the time of hgis arrest for a different offence.

David Watts, in mitigation, said the matter was now two and a half years old. His client pleaded guilty and there was nothing of a similar sort on his record.

“It is many years since he has been in trouble before the courts, bar a road traffic matter in Scotland,” added Mr Watts.

Lawrence was in a relationship. He had two children who lived with him at the weekends and took his parenting responsibilities very seriously, said Mr Watts.

After breaking several bones in a leg in a motorbike accident, he was unable to work and awaiting Personal Independence Payments. He was currently receiving Universal

Credit.

Judge Steven Coupland said that in August 2019 officers had wanted to speak with him, and he made off.

“You were taken to the ground,” he added. “You managed to discard what you had with you, what you were so worried about, which was drugs.”

More mamba, cash and phones were found at his home.

Thirteen separate quantities of synthetic cannabis (mamba) were recovered and messages on his phone indicated that he was dealing drugs on a commercial basis.

Lawrence was made homeless at the time and he was unemployed, living at the YMCA and had told the probation service that he had offended to get money for his children. Judge Coupland accepted he Lawrence was sorry for what he had done, that there had been a significant delay and he had stayed out of trouble. He was sentenced to 10 months’ prison for supplying a controlled Class B synthetic cannabinoid, suspended for 18 months. He will be subject to a electronic curfew for four months between 9pm to 7am, and he must complete 20 rehabilitation activity days.

You managed to discard what you had with you, what you were so worried about, which was drugs Judge Steven Coupland