‘VULNERABLE’ MAN PRESSURED INTO STORING DRUGS AT HOUSE

Heroin and monkey dust among £2k haul found at property

‘VULNERABLE’ Peter Carrington allowed his home to be used by a drug dealer to store heroin and monkey dust.

Drugs with a street value of £2,000 were found when police raided the 35-year-old’s property in Normacot.

Stoke-on-trent Crown Court heard Carrington suffered from mental health issues and had been threatened by the dealer.

Now he has been handed a suspended prison sentence after a judge was told he had ‘moved his life forward’ since the offences happened in 2016.

Prosecutor Benjamin Lawrence said officers carried out a search of Carrington’s address in Furnace Road, Normacot, adding: “A large number of different packages of drugs were found, all in the bedroom. There were also digital scales seized and a bag of coins.

“The drugs were clearly professionally packaged, many in individual wraps ready for sale.”

The court heard police recovered packages of heroin, monkey dust and synthetic stimulant ALPHA-PIPH.

Carrington, who has since moved to Birmingham, pleaded guilty to possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply and two charges of possessing a Class B drug with intent, on the basis that he was a drug addict at the time and was put under pressure by the dealer.

He has three previous convictions for three offences, but none are drug-related, and has not been in trouble since 2016.

Richard Mcconaghy, mitigating, said Carrington suffered from mental health issues. He added: “This was typical behaviour where a vulnerable person is used by a drug dealer to store drugs.

“His sister has been attacked as a result of this case and has since moved, and won’t even disclose to him where she has gone.

“He has made considerable efforts to move his life forwards. He has been working for eight weeks assisting with house removals.

“He has engaged with a college in Solihull to obtain a literacy certificate and is returning to obtain a second.”

Judge David Fletcher handed Carrington a two-year prison sentence suspended for 18 months, with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Judge Fletcher said: “I’m delighted to hear you have had some work and you appear to have settled down.

“There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in your case.”