DEALER USED HIS GIRLFRIEND TO HELP HIM DELIVER DRUGS
Police found heroin when they stopped her car – and more he hid in Kinder Egg
PRISON mentor Carl Barlow has been locked up for two-and-a-half years - after being caught with heroin.
Police discovered the heroin wraps, 124 pregabalin tablets, and cash after searching his ex-partner’s home on Mollison Road, in Meir, last October.
They conducted the search after earlier pulling over 32-year-old Emma Lovatt’s Ford Mondeo and finding heroin in the footwell.
Now 31-year-old Barlow is behind bars - and Lovatt has avoided prison.
Prosecutor Will Douglas-jones said: “Police attended her home address and found Mr Barlow in her bedroom.
“They found in shoes in the bag four Kinder Egg containers. “Officers seized the eggs. The three in the shoes contained tablets. One in his trousers contained 11 silver foil wraps of brown powder. “A set of digital scales with both brown and white powder residue was found with £135 cash. The silver foil wraps were tested and found to be 11 wraps of heroin with a street value of £220.
“The eggs were 124 pregabalin tablets and other tablets of class C. Ms Lovatt denied prior knowledge of the wrap of heroin. She said she had seen Mr Barlow taking monkey dust and heroin.” Stoke-on-trent Crown Court heard Barlow, of Queen’s Court Road, Basford, turned to drug-dealing to cover the cost of his own addiction.
Stephen Hennesey, mitigating, said: “The cost was impossible to bear and he was offered the opportunity to deal. He accepts he is responsible and is remorseful. That embroiled Ms Lovatt into that.
“His time in custody is being well spent given the restrictions of the pandemic. He is maintaining negative results for a range of illicit substances. He has managed to complete an education course, found work in the workshops as a packer, and is qualified as a prison mentor. He has been helping with reading and writing and ensuring that those who are vulnerable are protected. This man’s character is not all bad. He has tried to improve himself while in custody.”
He added: “Ms Lovatt is accepting her role and responsibility. She has no prior experience in the criminal justice system. Whatever the social environment was she has maintained her focus on her own family. She has not chosen most wisely her relationship.
“Custody would have a detrimental effect on her already fragile mental health. She is described as someone who is vulnerable who was struggling to support Mr Barlow. To some extent she has been taken advantage of. She accepts her responsibility for that.”
Barlow pleaded guilty to possessing a class C drug and possessing heroin with intent to supply. Lovatt pleaded guilty to possessing a Class C drug. She was slapped with a four-month curfew from 10pm to 5am.
Judge Paul Glenn told them: “Ms Lovatt, you accepted running the codefendant around while he delivered drugs. I accept to some extent you may have been taken advantage of. I have read a letter from the primary school headteacher describing you as an excellent parent.
“Mr Barlow, by engaging your codefendant to assist you, you are in a significant role. Ms Lovatt played a lesser role.”