Knife-wielding teen dealer avoids prison
‘I’ll take your jaw off ’ threat to police as they searched bedroom of teenager
TEENAGE drug dealer Brandon Ferns has been spared jail.
Police executed a search warrant at the 18-year-old’s home in 2019 when he was aged 17. They seized 6.65 grams of cocaine worth between £280 and £560 and phones which contained messages linking him to the supply of the drug.
Now Ferns has been sentenced to 22 months youth custody, suspended for 18 months, at Stoke-on-trent Crown Court.
Prosecutor Olivia Appleby said police executed a search warrant at the defendant’s Leek home on July 12, 2019.
Miss Appleby said: “The defendant was holding a large knife. He was asked if he had any drugs in his bedroom and he replied ‘no.’
“He made threats to the officers, saying, ‘I will take your jaw off.’
“The room was searched and a number of items suggesting drug use and dealing were found.
“There was a plastic bag with a white lumpy substance in it, £100, three phones, two bottles of white liquid, the knife and a grinder.
“He was arrested. The drugs and the phones were analysed.
“The drugs were found to be 6.65 grams of cocaine with a street value of between £280 and £560 depending on how it was cut.”
The phones contained messages linking the defendant to the supply of cocaine.
Miss Appleby added: “The phone was being used as a drug line over some period of time.”
Ferns, of Carlton Terrace, Leek, pleaded guilty to possession of a class A drug with intent to supply.
Hamish Noble, mitigating, said the defendant was aged 17 and four months at the time of his arrest. He said: “He had been using cannabis for some time. His cocaine use escalated and he was aged 16 when the debt increased. He was using significant amounts of cocaine for himself. A debt escalated. He was under some pressure to pay the debt and his own significant drug use.
“At that young age he made a foolish decision to deal in cocaine.
“The people he was in contact with he describes as his friends.”
Mr Noble added that prison would have a negative impact on the defendant who has not committed any offences since 2019.
As part of the suspended sentence Ferns must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 20 days, 120 hours unpaid work and a 12 week electronically-monitored curfew from 7pm to 6am.
Judge David Fletcher said: “At your age there is an opportunity to look at your life and say, ‘Is this really what I want.’
“You accepted possession with intent to supply a class A substance. It is serious criminal behaviour.
“It is clear for a period of months you had been involved in dealing drugs. You were doing so because you were trying to discharge a debt you had built up because you had been taking drugs, specifically cocaine.
“If going forward from today you commit any criminal offence that would put you in potential breach of the suspended sentence.”
SPACE, a programme of fun and educational activities for young people in Staffordshire, will return this summer after its continued success during the pandemic.
Last summer, against all odds and numerous challenges as a result of Covid-19, Space went ahead to help young people during August with more than 500 activities at around 50 locations.
It was extended to provide further relief for young people and their families during the October half term.
Thousands of young people between the ages of eight and 17 got to enjoy days out, football, outdoor sports and activities and creative classes, all conducted in a Covid-safe way.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, Matthew Ellis said he was determined to see Space go ahead last summer, when it was needed more than ever, even though it could not take place in the same way because of the pandemic.
He has announced Space will go ahead this summer with hopefully a return to a more normal programme over the summer holidays.
Mr Ellis, below, who has set aside funding of £180,000, said: “It was amazing what everyone involved managed to achieve last summer and over the autumn half term to help young people and families have something to enjoy and look forward to with Space, during what was one of the most difficult periods any of us have had to live through.
“I’m proud of everyone who took part and grateful to all the individuals and organisations who made it happen against all odds.
“I’m hoping this year’s event can go ahead in a more normal way and build on the successes of previous years since I relaunched Space in 2015.
“As we can see again this year from feedback, Space not only gives young people fun, active things to do with their friends during the summer, it also helps their physical and mental wellbeing and has the potential to have long-lasting effects on their whole lives.
“We’ve heard from teachers who report changes of attitude and school attendance through the confidence and boost to self-esteem young people can experience from attending Space.
“It really does have farreaching effects beyond just attending the events themselves over the summer holidays. “I won’t be here to see this year’s event, but I have allocated funding to make sure Space can take place and build on the remarkable results for young people that we’ve witnessed over the last six years.
“I really hope the new Commissioner will continue with the Space programme, which has seen thousands of young people gain confidence, develop skills and improve their health and wellbeing.’
Mr Ellis relaunched Space in 2015 to bring together public, voluntary and private sector organisations to help nurture, support and guide Staffordshire’s young people.