Case Details
Charges
The defendant faced a serious indictment for street-level dealing of Class A substances:
Count 1: Possession with Intent to Supply a Controlled Drug of Class A (Crack Cocaine).Count 2: Possession with Intent to Supply a Controlled Drug of Class A (Diamorphine/Heroin).
These offences carry a starting point of significant custody under the Sentencing Guidelines, particularly when "street dealing" paraphernalia is present.
Situation
Police officers arrested the defendant in a local park following observations of suspected drug transactions with known users.
Upon stopping the defendant, officers seized a paper bag containing multiple "snap seal" bags distinguished by a green cannabis leaf print. These bags contained brown powder and white rocks. Further searches revealed cash, two Nokia "burner" phones, and a damaged iPhone. Forensic analysis confirmed the substances were Crack Cocaine, Heroin, and Cannabis, and fingerprint analysis linked the packaging to the defendant.
Defence Strategy
Negotiating the Basis of Plea
Initially, the defendant entered a Not Guilty plea. However, faced with the forensic evidence, the legal strategy shifted to mitigation.
We advised the client to enter a Guilty plea on a specific written basis. We presented evidence that the defendant had suffered a significant trauma—the death of his half-brother—which led to an addiction spiral. The defence argued that the dealing was not a commercial enterprise for profit, but a desperate measure to pay off a drug debt enforced by threats of violence from his suppliers. This "debt bondage" argument was crucial for the sentencing exercise.
Outcome
Sentencing Outcome
On 28 January 2025, the case concluded at Shrewsbury Crown Court. The Judge accepted the guilty pleas and sentenced the defendant to a total custodial period of 68 months (5 years and 8 months).
While a custodial sentence was inevitable for Class A supply, the submission of the Basis of Plea ensured the Court considered the coercive circumstances behind the offending.
