Drug dealer jailed for two years (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Drug dealer jailed for two years

3:51pm Sunday 5th August 2007 in

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A DRUG addict who peddled cocaine in Rossendale pubs has been jailed for two years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Daniel Delaney, 20, dealt to up to about 30 people as a means to pay off debts to his dealer.

The defendant, of Grange Road, Rawtenstall, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

Judge Beverley Lunt told him she accepted the offence was out of character but said that was the danger of drugs.

She slammed drug supplying as an evil trade which destroyed lives and said the sentence had to punish Delaney and deter others.

The defendant had no previous convictions.

The court was told Delaney accepted he became addicted to cocaine in March last year and ran up debts.

Before his arrest last October, he had been supplying for a number of weeks but had not made any profit.

He had merely reduced his debt.

Delaney was found to have £25,000 but it was discovered that had been paid to him legitimately in 2005, by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, told the court last October police went to the defendant's then home in Haslingden.

He was carrying a bag which was later found to contain 6.81 grammes of drugs.

Also in the bag were several resealable plastic bags and a set of digital scales showing traces of cocaine and ketamine, sometimes used as a cutting agent.

Delaney also had six separate bags of cocaine in his sock and more drugs were found on the kitchen worktop of his home, as well as in a cupboard under the stairs.

In total, just under 12 grammes of cocaine, of 25 per cent purity and with a street value of up to almost £900 were found.

Miss Statham said the defendant was questioned by police and made no comment despite the fact he had what appeared to be dealers' lists in his property.

Martin Hackett, defending, said aside from the offence, Delaney seemed to be a relatively normal 20 year old.

But, the message had to go out from the courts that this sort of behaviour, concerning Class A controlled drugs, would not be tolerated.

Delaney's addiction had got out of hand, he was in debt to his suppliers and he had been put under a certain amount of pressure to meet those debts.

He was taking cocaine every day and yet neither his partner nor his family had any idea.