Former drug dealer beats addiction and is spared jail

YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOURSELF FOR TURNING YOUR LIFE AROUND, SAYS JUDGE

Bessie needed stitches after the attack A FORMER addict from Derby who sold so-called “Mamba” to an undercover police officer has been spared prison after kicking drugs out of his life.

Derby Crown Court was told Kevin Hargreaves has also put on 4st since he was handed a deferred sentence in the summer for selling drugs.

The hearing was told the 33-year-old now does voluntary work for an organisation in Derby that helps offenders on their release from prison.

He was told by a judge he should be “proud of himself” for the work he has done to free himself of drugs.

Handing Hargreaves a 12-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, Judge Shaun Smith QC said: “Back in July the judge entered a deal with you telling you if you kept your side of it she would not send you to prison. She has now passed that case to me and I am going to keep her part of that deal.

“It is clear the offences pass the custodial threshold because of the nature of how serious they are but you have done well on your deferred sentence and you should be proud of yourself.

“Hopefully, you will continue turning your life around at the age of 33.”

Sarah Slater, prosecuting, said Hargreaves, of California Gardens, off Kingsway, was snared earlier this year as part of Operation Halifax, which was set up by police in Derby following concerns about the amount of the so-called zombie drug that was being bought and sold in a number of streets in the city centre.

Miss Slater said Hargreaves sold “Black Mamba” on five occasions to an undercover police officer between January 16 and 22 and, on March 6, took £90 from someone for drugs but stole the money. He pleaded guilty to five counts of supplying the class B drug and one count of theft.

Miss Slater said: “When he was sentenced in July, Judge [Nirmal] Shant made the decision to hand him a deferred sentence. Since then he has been carrying out voluntary work for the Inside Out project.

“I have spoken to the police and they have confirmed that since July he has not committed any other offences.”

Siward James-Moore, for Hargreaves, said his client had done 100 hours voluntary work with the project which helps prison leavers settle back into the community.

He said: “He is candid and admits he was a drug addict and weighed 7st 10lb when he last appeared before the court. He now weighs nearer 12st which shows how much he has progressed. And he now has overnight contact with his children.”

As well as the suspended sentence, Judge Smith told Hargreaves to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

You have done well on your deferred sentence and you should be proud of yourself.

Judge Shaun Smith QC