Dealer who offered ‘knock down’ price drugs on net is jailed

Man stole stash of tablets because fellow dealer would not help him out

A man who stole a drug dealer’s stash then tried to “sell them on social media at knock down prices” has been jailed for two years.

Stephen Hartley took 204 of the class A tablets from a “higher level” dealer in revenge for that person not helping him retrieve equipment used for growing cannabis.

He then went online and sent out a message offering to sell them on for just £2 a pill – an 80% discount on their normal street price.

Hartley, 28, of Gallowden Road, Arbroath, was also found to have an illegal CS spray aerosol in his home when police raided his former address in Monifieth.

He later claimed to social workers preparing pre-sentencing reports he “didn’t see anything wrong” with his crimes.

His solicitor Paul Parker Smith said: “He believes all drugs – including alcohol and tobacco – should all be legalised, or all made illegal.”

Hartley pleaded guilty on indictment to possessing a CS spray on May 22 2016 and being concerned in the supply of ecstasy between May 20 and May 23 2016 at an address in North Bank Street, Monifieth.

Jailing Hartley at Dundee Sheriff Court, Sheriff Alastair Brown said: “I understand that you do not perceive what you did as being wrong.

“I hope you understand that it is illegal.

“I simply say that having seen repeatedly the wreckage of lives brought about by addiction to class A drugs and having sometimes stood and watched the autopsies of those who have died or been killed by involvement with them, I fully understand why they are illegal.

“You had a significant quantity and you offered them for sale.

“You had CS spray and say it was for protection – it isn’t a leap to say that it was for protection because you were involved with selling drugs.”

Fiscal depute Isma Mukhtar told the court that Hartley’s home was raided by police on May 23 last year following a tip-off that he had drugs and an illegal CS spray.

She said: “During the course of the search they recovered a mobile phone, 204 ecstasy tablets and a CS spray canister.

“He stated to police officers that the tablets recovered were his and for his own personal use.

“An interrogation of the mobile phone showed he had sent a message on May 20 to an associate stating he had 200 ‘sweeties’ – slang for ecstasy tablets – and offering to sell them for £400’.

“He was open about the fact the tablets were within the house and indeed had indicated to officers that they would find drugs within the house.”

Mr Parker Smith said: “Jail would do nothing to rectify his flawed thinking.

“There is the opportunity to impose on him an alternative to prison.

“He could comply and show that he can rectify his thinking and put in the practice sensible thoughts as regards this offending.”

I understand you do not perceive what you did as being wrong. Having seen the wreckage of lives brought about by addiction to class A drugs... I fully understand why they are illegal.

SHERIFF ALASTAIR BROWN

Stephen Hartley believes all drugs should be legalised and did not see anything wrong in his crimes, Dundee Sheriff Court was told.