Published date: 27 May 2016 |
Published by: Staff reporterRead more articles by Staff reporterEmail reporter
A MAN who hurled heroin bags out of his window when police arrived with a search warrant has been jailed for seven years.
Stephen Roberts, 44, from Wrexham was convicted of being a heroin dealer.
His previous convictions – including a previous five-year term for supplying heroin – meant after being convicted of possessing the dangerous class A drug with intent to supply he faced a prescribed minimum seven-year term.
Judge Niclas Parry told him at Mold Crown Court yesterday: “If anybody should know about the misery and harm to health that drugs cause in North Wales, it should be you.”
Stephen Roberts denied the offence but was convicted “on overwhelming evidence”, the judge said.
Barrister Sarah Badrawy, prosecuting, said on the night of December 12,
2014, police executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home at Bran on the Plas Madoc Estate at Acrefair.
It was 11pm and approaching officers saw the defendant’s wife Lisa throw out bags of cannabis while Stephen Roberts hurled out two bags of heroin.
One landed on the floor and the other on the window sill.
The prosecutor said one bag
contained 26.1 grams of heroin and the other 23 grammes.
Despite being on benefits, Stephen Roberts had £1,280 in a jar.
He made no comment in interview.
Police drugs expert DC Gary Edwards said at the time the drugs would have been valued at £2,600 – although prices had halved by now.
He said heroin addicts, because of their chaotic lives, would not buy large amounts in bulk to get it cheaper because if they had it they would simply use more.
In evidence, Stephen Roberts said he had been a heroin addict for about 24 years and in the past injected it.
But the defendant now smoked it and said he bought the heroin for his own use in bulk because it was cheaper.
He paid £1,200 for it, he said, and claimed he was able to afford it because he grew and sold cannabis.
Stephen Roberts said his convictions for supply were in the past.
After he had received the previous five-year sentence he had vowed to himself and promised his wife that he would never supply heroin again.
After the conviction his barrister, Debra White, asked the judge consider Stephen Roberts’ longstanding addiction and lifestyle but confirmed it was a minimum sentence case.
Lisa Roberts, 39, of the same address, denied possessing heroin with intent to supply and the charge against her was dismissed on the direction of the judge, who accepted there was insufficient evidence.
She was fined £200 for possessing cannabis which she admitted.
see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/162565/wrexham-man-jailed-for-seven-years-after-dealing-heroin.aspx
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