A DRUG dealer who sold an undercover policeman heroin has been jailed for 12 months.
Dean Rowbotham handed over the £20 deal in the Hungry Tums café in Hartlepool after he was pointed out as the man to see to buy heroin from by a man known as 'Goldie'.
The 32-year-old was later identified by a photograph following the drug deal in September 2019 on suspicion of supplying a Class A drug.
Teesside Crown Court heard that he was arrested again six months later when officers spotted him on York Road in the town.
Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said Rowbotham was carrying a craft knife and was subsequently also charged with possession of an offensive weapon.
The court heard how the defendant had been recalled on licence and was serving the remainder of his sentence for coughing at police officers while telling them he hoped they caught coronavirus and died.
Kelly Sherif, in mitigation, said her client had been recalled on licence for previous offences and was not expected to be released from custody until next year.
Recorder Andrew Smith MBE sentenced Rowbotham to a total of 12 months for both offences.
He said: "You were sentenced in August last for a number of offences including assault on an emergency worker, burglary and racially aggravated harassment on a couple of occasions and you were given 27 months.
"These offences you are in court for today are both serious but both predate the sentence you were given last year and it seems to me that if the judge had known about these offences it would have added to the overall sentence imposed on you but not by a particularly long time."
Judge Smith told Rowbotham there was 'no legitimate' purpose for him carrying the knife before impose the 12 months sentence.
Rowbotham, formerly of Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to both charges.
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