Nelson cocaine dealer jailed for two and a half years (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Nelson cocaine dealer jailed for two and a half years

1:49pm Wednesday 25th November 2009

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By Tyrone Marshall »

AN EX-SERVICEMAN who got involved in cocaine supply to try and work off a drugs debt has been jailed for two and a half years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how addict Ben Rushton, 25, was a courier, transporting, looking after and bagging up cocaine and taking risks for the dealer.

Police found drugs, scales and mobile phones when they raided his then flat at the Commercial pub in Colne.

Rushton, who was in possession of cocaine with a street value of £580, owned up to police straight away.

He told officers the debt, which started at £1,500, had escalated to £8,000 and he had “messed up big time”.The defendant, dishing out about one ounce of cocaine a week, was said to have received threats to himself and his family, in particular his grandma, in the days before his arrest.

Rushton, of Garden Street, Nelson, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply on July 14.

Judge Philip Butler told him: “You became a necessary and useful cog in this wheel of commercial dealing.”

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, said Rushton immediately told police he had some cocaine and scales when they turned up at his home.

Officers seized three mobiles, four lists of names and numbers, plastic bags and three sets of scales with drugs residue on them.

Rushton was interviewed and said he had been given the opportunity to pay off his debt by looking after drugs for someone he would not name.

Miss Dacre said Rushton would be rung up and told who to supply to.

He claimed he had not earned any money and the drugs debt had escalated.

The prosecutor added Rushton had a previous conviction for possessing a firearm, which led to his discharge from the services and for which he served 16 months in jail.

Richard Taylor, for Rushton, said: “It does seem to be quite clear this is a good thing out of a bad.

"He was getting deeper and deeper into debt and trouble.

“At no stage did he go out and try and build up a business. He did what he was told to do.”

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