Unpaid work order for drug dealer

A county lines heroin dealer who was ruthlessly beaten by gangsters months after being caught supplying class-A drugs in Dundee has been ordered to complete unpaid work.

Merseyside dealer Joshua Pennington, 28, previously admitted supplying cocaine and heroin from a property in St Boswells Terrace in February 2020.

Just five months after being caught by police, Pennington was mown down and beaten with baseball bats by a gang of thugs in Liverpool.

At a previous hearing at Dundee Sheriff Court, depute fiscal Gavin Barton said: “Police were searching for a missing woman.

“They attended the locus. They began conversing with the woman who was behind the door.

“Police traced Pennington in the living room. He was detained and conveyed to police headquarters.

“He was searched and a black Nokia mobile phone was discovered, with £1,200 cash.”

A search was carried out at the property.

The prosecutor said: “Wraps containing a crystal substance and others with white powder were found, along with a set of weighing scales.

“Forensic scientist analysis discovered the crystal substance to be cocaine and the powder diamorphine (heroin).

“The accused’s DNA was found on packages of the drugs.

“Messages uncovered on the phone were consistent of messages selling drugs.”

More than £1,300 of cocaine was recovered and £120 of heroin.

Defence solicitor Billy Watt said his client was “vulnerable” and lived with his grandparents near Liverpool.

Sheriff George Way ordered Pennington to complete 220 hours of unpaid work within one year as a direct alternative to custody.