Cocaine dealer jailed

9:50pm Thursday 8th May 2008

A DRUG user who supplied cocaine to fund his own habit has been jailed.

John Sherwin was collared when police raided his home and found 12 bags of the class A drug hidden in a training shoe in a rear yard, and more stashed inside a CD case indoors.

Officers also found 1,008 diazpam tablets stored in his garden shed.

The cocaine had a street value of between £1,750 and £2,500 and the diazapam would have been worth about £500.

The 22-year-old told officers he was warehousing the diazepam but admitted supplying the cocaine on behalf of someone else.

Sherwin, of Dame Flora Robson Avenue, South Shields, South Tyneside, admitted possession of class A and C drugs with inent to supply.

Defence barrister Stephen Duffield said: "He was at the time a heavy user himself and such money he made out of supplying drugs was principally to fund his own habit."

Mr Duffield said Sherwin has managed to kick his drug habit, has a steady job and is unlikely to ever become involved in dealing again.

But Judge Beatrice Bolton sentenced him to 20 months imprisonment.

The judge said: "You are to be sentenced on the basis you are a low-level street dealer.

"I accept there is someone higher up the chain who was organising your sales but that is not the point, without people like you the people higher up can't function."

Judge Bolton seized Sherwin's £120 in assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

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