Justice has finally caught up with a serial offender as he was locked up for a catalogue of offences involving the seizure of £100,000 worth of drugs.
Michael Collins was initially arrested in August 2017 when he was arrested with high-grade cocaine and amphetamine.
The 61-year-old was arrested again the following month when found with almost £10,000 in cash and more high-purity cocaine.
Teesside Crown Court heard how Cleveland Police believed the Hartlepool man’s involvement in the drug supply network was connected to the long-running Operation Spoonbill investigation into the flow of drugs from the North West into the region.
Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said while that investigation resulted in several trials at the same court, Collins’ offences were eventually dropped from the nationwide drug conspiracy investigation resulting in a huge delay in him being charged.
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The court heard that Collins was arrested three times last year for another raft of drug-related offences, all committed while he was under investigation for the 2017 charges.
Collins was arrested in February, March and May, last year after he was caught cocaine, amphetamine and a large quantity of prescription drugs as well scales, mobile phones and a ‘tick’ list.
Mr Abrahams said the total value of drugs recovered totalled in the region of £100,000 when officers raided his former home in Hartlepool and a pub in Port Clarence connected to the defendant.
The court heard how the defendant has 16 convictions for 38 offences, including kidnap and blackmail.
Collins, of Crosby Terrace, Port Clarence, near Stockton, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A, B and C drugs as well possession of criminal property – the cash.
Martin Scarborough, in mitigation, said his client’s problems stem from a debt he owed following a fraud involving cigarettes seized at sea and as a result he had his throat slashed while in prison for the kidnap and blackmail offences.
He added: “Those debts were still outstanding and, in a nutshell, that was the motivation behind this offending.”
Recorder David Gordon sentenced Collins to a total of seven years and four months for all offences.
He said: “You have, on multiple occasions, been arrested by the police in relation to possession with intent to supply drugs.
“On repeated occasions, you have been taken to the police station, interviewed, released under inquiry and then you have gone on to commit further similar offences.”
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