‘Not very good at it’ Drug dealer is jailed for 35 months
AHARD drug dealer was described as ‘not very good at it’ by his own defence lawyer at Gloucester Crown Court.
Stephen Matthews, 42, of St George’s Road, Cheltenham, admitted possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply on January 24 last year. He was jailed for 35 months. That sentence also included a two month jail term for failing to answer his bail on May 10.
Matthews was arrested and brought to court and then the allegations were put to him he denied them and a trial date was due to be fixed.
However when Matthews heard that Judge Michael Cullum intended to remand him in custody until the potential trial date, he asked for more time with his lawyer, Sarah Jenkins.
Later in the day the case was called back on and Matthews entered guilty pleas to the drug offences.
He also admitted failing to surrender to bail on May 10, but denied an offence of possession of criminal property, namely £400 in cash that was found on him when he was arrested on January 24, 2017.
Prosecutor, Janine Wood, told the judge that she would offer no evidence on that allegation and a formal not guilty verdict was recorded against that count.
Mrs Wood said that police officers saw Matthews in Cheltenham in a blue Ford Focus.
The officers believed they witnessed a drug deal between him and another man.
The prosecutor said that Matthew tried to drive away from the police but was stopped and detained.
He was found to have nine ‘deals’ of cocaine and four of heroin with a total street value of £220.
Two mobile phones were seized along with £400 in cash, Mrs Wood said.
She told the judge that on the phones were messages related to drug dealing.
“He denies all messages on the phone made by him,” Mrs Wood said. “Some of them quite clearly were related to him.”
She described his offending as ‘small level drug dealing.’ Mrs Wood said Matthews pleading guilty on the basis: “He had a drugs debt and was dealing just for that purpose.
“He would not have made a significant financial advantage, and was paying off a debt.”
Matthews had 27 previous convictions for 60 offences, with a ‘vast amount for acquisitive crime.’
Sarah Jenkins representing Matthews said her client had a ‘long standing addiction to drugs’ and had built up a debt of £1,000 to a dealer.
“He was told if he would look after a phone for a few days, and a small amount of drugs, that would be a way of reducing the debt,” the lawyer told the judge.
“He sold the car to reduce his debt with dealer,” she said explaining the £400 in cash he had on him at arrest.”
Describing his skill at drug dealing, she said: “He was not very good at it. Straight away he was spotted by officers. He is presently completely clean of drugs, and not using at all.”
Mrs Jenkins told the court Matthews was ‘on benefits, and seeking work.’
Imposing the prison sentence, the judge said to Matthews: “At age of 42 you have plenty of previous convictions behind you.
“You are a drug addicted shoplifter by trade, often failing to attend court,” he said.
He noted that there was a ‘degree of direction’ that Matthews was working under.
“I accept that not all the text messages were relevant to you, but you were fully equipped to deal Class A drugs.
“You did not admit immediately, meaning the police and prosecution had to investigate the matter.
Along with being jailed for a total of 35 months, costs of £230 and court surcharges of £170 were imposed. echo.news@localworld.co.uk