7:20pm Saturday 21st November 2009
By Stuart Arnold
A MAN who sold wraps of crack cocaine from his bicycle has been jailed for three years.
Teesside Crown Court was told that Christopher Ben Moloney, 23, was stopped by police in Middlesbrough on November 14 last year and discovered to have 17 wraps of the drug on him, along with £494 in cash.
Jobless Moloney, of Kesteven Road, Middlesbrough, was a street level drug dealer who dealt in order to avoid "violent reprisals" from those who he owed money to, said his barrister Duncan McReddie.
However Mr McReddie claimed he had the ability to put his life to good use, having seen the "error of his ways", following a spell in custody.
Judge Peter Armstrong said he understood Moloney, who admitted possession of a class A drug with intent to supply, had got involved in drug dealing to fund his own habit, but could not avoid jailing him.
He said he would serve half of his three year sentence, before being released on licence.
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