By David Young-
A drug dealing teenager escaped jail after telling a court he turned to selling drugs as a result of his own drug habit,
Jack Williams, 19, had previously pleaded guilty at Mold Magistrates Court on June 8, for being concerned in the supply of a class B drug (cannabis) and class A drug (cocaine), as well as offering to supply a class C drug (zoplicone), but when he appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday, June 29, he was encountered an unusually benevolent judge who gave him another chance.
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Judge Rowland described Williams as a very lucky young man, as he sentenced him to 14 months in jail suspended for 18 months. The judge added, ‘I hope you turn your life around’
Judge Rhys Rowlands had sentenced Williams for the cocaine supply offence only, adding no separate penalty for the cannabis or the zoplicone offences.
He will have to complete 25 days of rehabilitation requirement and pay a fine of £750, as well as £250 in prosecution costs and a statutory surcharge of £187
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Alexandra Carrier, prosecuting in the case, told the court that police executed a search warrant of Williams’ address at around 9pm on April 1, 2021.
They found a number of damaged mobile phones in the bedroom of the defendant, who was 17 years old at the time.
Police also seized, cannabis, cannabis grinders and scales, some of which were found in the garage and in a ‘wendy house’.
They also found a ‘tick list’ of names (of those who owe money to a dealer) in an airing cupboard, the court was told.
The court heard that the cannabis offences took place between March 18, 2020 and April 2, 2021, with the cocaine offences taking place between March 17 and 25 of 2021.
Upon examination by drug experts, the scales found were said to contain cannabis residue.
The mobile phones seized also contained evidence of drug supply, with messages referring to ‘flake’, ‘sniff’ and ‘snow’ (all slang for cocaine).
However, the drug experts concluded that Williams was ‘not a regular supplier’ of cocaine and instead passed people on to those higher up in the chain.
The court heard that there were ‘significant delays’ with the case, taking a period of two years for Williams to appear before the court.
Ms Carrier argued that Williams was ‘aware of the scale of the operation’ he was involved in.
Mitigating for him, Nicholas Williams, defending, said that Williams was someone who had ‘turned his life around’.
He added: “He has spent the last two years worrying about this and has shown a determination to put things right.” The court also heard that the young man had started smoking cannabis at the age of 13.
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