Crack cocaine dealer locked up
A MACHETE, GUN AND DRUGS WERE FOUND AT HIS HOME
A CRACK cocaine dealer caught with a shotgun and a machete in his house has been jailed.
Michael McLaughlin was identified as a supplier to dealers following a surveillance operation by police in North Tyneside.
He had been found with 51 wraps of crack, two mobile phones and more than £1,000 cash in his car during one stop.
But after being released while police investigated, he continued to peddle narcotics.
McLaughlin, who has previous for robbery and stalking, was then caught with more drugs and the weapons when police raided his home weeks later.
Now the 31-year-old, of Barton Close, Battle Hill, Wallsend, has been locked up for five years and two months after admitting drugs charges and possessing a firearm when prohibited due to a previous conviction. Ellen
Wright, prosecuting, told Newcastle
Crown Court: “The
Crown’s case is that the defendant supplied drugs to individuals who went on to supply drugs to users. “The defendant was identified as part of an operation conducted to target drugs supply in the North Tyneside area.
“The operation by the police involved surveillance of the defendant.
McLaughlin, driving a BMW, was seen dealing and when police searched his car in July last year, they found 51 wraps of crack cocaine, more than £1,000 cash and two phones – on which there were messages indicating he was supplying drugs. During a later raid at
his home, in September last year, officers had to drill the locks after having trouble gaining access and McLaughlin could be seen moving 20 or 30 wraps before they got in.
One wrap was found in the toilet and officers also discovered the 12bore long-barrelled shotgun, a 2ft machete, more than £1,000 in cash and other drugs paraphernalia. The gun was not loaded but was described as “viable”.
McLaughlin, who has 27 previous convictions, admitted possessing a firearm when prohibited, two counts of possessing a class-A drug with intent to supply and two counts of supplying a class-A drug.
Tony Davis, mitigating, said: “This man is no Pablo Escobar.
“He did not have vast amounts of wealth.
“He has no previous convictions for involvement in this trade and he was caught fairly promptly.”
Mr Davis said that McLaughlin’s intention in having the gun was in order to intimidate a person who was harassing his girlfriend.
After the case, Det Con Laura Fairly from Northumbria Police, said: “This is an excellent result – McLaughlin is a dangerous individ” ual who was making money by exploiting some of the most vulnerable in society by supplying them with highly addictive, illegal drugs.
“McLaughlin was arrested in a series of raids which were carried out as part of Operation Sentinel – our joined-up approach to tackling serious and organised crime – and offenders should be warned we will continue to carry out surveillance, execute warrants and seize illicit drugs and cash in order to disrupt this type of criminality.”
This man was no Pablo Escobar. He did not have vast amounts of wealth Tony Davis, representing Michael McLaughlin