BY LUCY CAULKETT
How sad it is when a father and son are done for drug dealing. It makes one wonder what society is coming to if a son cannot rely on his father for basic guidance for development.
As a matter of fact, when a father and son are done for drug dealing, it inevitably begs the question as to how much the father’s own proclivities has influenced the son. Examples abound of individuals who sell drugs without any direct influence from their home, since people from street families from their peers anyway. But when your father is on the fast lane, it becomes unsurprising if the son begins to the view this as the quickest way to making a comfortable living.
Michael and Jonathan Reed were arrested after police searched their home in the Halton Moor area of the city as part of a police operation.Leeds Crown Court heard officers followed a man as he drove from London to the Reeds’ home on Halton Moor Road.
Officers intercepted the vehicle as it headed back to London and the drug, along with a large amount of cash, was found hidden in the lining of the boot. Jonathan had supplied a man with £3,750 worth of class B drug known as MDEA
After cops conducted an exhaustive search of their family home, they found a bag containing £5,700 worth of cannabis.
Both men initially denied any responsibility for the drugs, with Michael telling police that he had found the bag of cannabis in some woods.
GUILTY PLEA
Both men entered a guilty plea because of the overwhelming evidence against them. Jonathan pleaded guilty to supplying MDEA and Michael pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply. Evidence from a probation officer that Michael was dealing in an attempt to pay up a debt he had built with his dealer was one of the most ludicrous explanations that could be offered on behalf of one caught dealing drugs. When an addict builds up a debt for his vices, it shows him or her to be utterly irresponsible in living above their means. Illegal steps taking to compensate mounting debts simply amounts to exposing the frailties of the defendants lifestyle and showing him to have a high propensity to law breaking., if anything.
Depression and anxiety which the defendant was said to have suffered from since the death of his brother in 2013 was sad and unfortunate, and draws the sympathy of any indifferent observer. However, to seek to earn tons of money by exploiting the addictions of vulnerable addicts is never justified. Dealers often overlook the destructive and harmful effects of supplying their clients with drugs, and think only of their own pockets.
Many dealers periodically send text messages to addicts. A heroine addict showed examples of the text messages he gets daily from his suppliers. One read ” food on high supply, holla”. Or ”the best of B and C available here 24/7”. It is unfortunate that addicts are wilfully exploited in this way, however, it is demand and supply between dealer and customer. If they both continue in their deals undetected, then good luck to them. However, whenever a dealer is caught by the system, it is one less dealer on the streets. The o
Both men were jailed for 10 months.Judge Tom Bayliss, QC, described Michael’s account of finding the cannabis in woodland as a “cock and bull story”.
He told the men: “You were doing this for financial gain. You are normally responsible members of the community. It is clear from your references that you are hard working men.“But there has to be a prison sentence. This is a serious matter.”
