Dealer was found with drugs after police saw stolen car

CLEAN RECORD SPARES HIM AN IMMEDIATE JAIL SENTENCE

A PASSENGER in a stolen car was found to be carrying 36 cannabis deals when police pulled it over after a pursuit through Leicester.

Louis McLaren was searched and arrested after officers managed to stop the Honda, stolen during a house burglary three weeks previously.

Officers on patrol on Wednesday, September 15 last year were notified the car was in the Welford Road area of the city and authorised to follow it.

The force helicopter was called in to help officers on the ground, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Sentencing, Judge Keith Raynor told McLaren: “You were the passenger and found to have 36 separate deals of cannabis, £530 in cash and three mobile phones.”

One of the phones contained incriminating text messages offering the class B drug for sale.

The judge said the stolen Honda’s registration plates had been changed and the defendant’s fingerprints were found on them.

However, it was not suggested McLaren, of The Newry, Aylestone, Leicester, was involved in the actual stealing of the car.

The 24-year-old admitted handling the stolen Honda, worth just under £10,000, and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

He also admitted a separate charge of possession of cannabis.

The defendant, a father-of-two with no previous convictions, did not have legal representation in court.

It was his clean record that spared him an immediate jail sentence.

He told the judge he had adhered to a home curfew while on bail after his arrest in September.

Judge Raynor said: “I’m satisfied you were playing a significant role regarding the vehicle. You were also pushing out messages to make cannabis deals.

“If you had previous convictions I’d be sending you straight to prison.

“I’m going to give you a chance and suspend the sentence, but will reserve any breaches to myself.”

McLaren was given a 16-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also placed on a further three-month home curfew between 9pm and 7am.