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DRUG dealer Craig James has been spared an immediate jail sentence.
The 24-year-old was selling cocaine and cannabis to fund his habit and pay off his drug debts, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard yesterday.
But his operation came to an end when police swooped on his house.
Officers found 4.3 grams of cocaine worth £160 in his car.
And they recovered 5.9 grams of cannabis worth £40 in his bedroom along with two sets of scales and bags which were suitable for supplying drugs.
Officers also found three dealers’ lists and his mobile phone was examined which showed 23 texts consistent with the supply of cannabis and cocaine.
Now James has been sentenced to a 24-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with unpaid work.
Prosecutor Paul Spratt said police raided James’s home on December 13.
He arrived home at the same time and officers found two packages of cocaine in his car.
They then recovered cannabis, scales, dealer’s lists and his phone from his room.
Mr Spratt said: “The mobile phone was examined.
“There were 23 pertinent texts regarding cocaine and cannabis.”
James, of Kettering Drive, Eaton Park, pleaded guilty to being concerned in making an offer to supply class A drug cocaine to another between December 3 and December 13; being concerned in the supply of class B drug cannabis between December 3 and December 13 and possession of class A drug cocaine with intent to supply on December 13. He denied possession of cannabis with intent to supply on December 13 but accepted possession of the drug.
Peter McCartney, mitigating, urged Judge David Fletcher to suspend any sentence.
He said James has no previous convictions and has taken steps to put things right.
Mr McCartney said: “He got himself into a mess because he used drugs recreationally for some time.
“That led to debt and that led to threats. In order to discharge those debts and alleviate those threats he began to deal. He regrets his actions.”
Mr McCartney said James has a good work ethic. He stopped using cocaine on his arrest and has not used cannabis for three weeks.
He added that James is unlikely to re-offend.
Judge Fletcher sentenced James to 24 months in prison, suspended for two years, with 12 months supervision and 240 hours unpaid work.
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, the judge ruled James benefited from his offending by £5,590 and ordered him to repay the available amount of £140.
Judge Fletcher told James: “You got yourself involved in the murky world of drugs and to some extent drug dealing.
“It is an extremely serious position you find yourself in today. This is dealing.”
But he added: “You have never been before a court before and there is some hope that you have learned your lesson.”
The judge reserved any breaches to himself.
Eaton Park drug dealer Craig James spared jail
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