A drug addict who turned to dealing to fund his habit has been jailed after police raided his home and found crack cocaine and prescription drugs.
Elliot Milner turned to using drugs when he lost his job as a joiner during the Covid epidemic, Teesside Crown Court heard.
The 22-year-old told officers exactly where to find the Class A and Class drugs when they stormed into his bedroom on Rydale Avenue, Billingham, on January 17, 2021.
Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said officers recovered 42 pregabalin tablets and 42 wraps of crack cocaine and seized an iPhone which contained a number of messages connected to drug dealing.
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He said the value of the drugs was estimated to be 50p to £1 for each Class C tablet and £420 for the Class A drugs.
A forensic examination of Milner’s mobile phone showed several messages offering drugs as well as a list of people who owed him money for his product.
Mr Newcombe added: “There was an iPhone on your windowsill which the defendant took hold off and he locked it down.
“The police analysed the mobile phone and found a number of drug-related messages.”
Milner, now of Bowfell Close, Eaglescliffe, pleaded guilty to two charges of possession with intent to supply drugs and two charges of offering to sell the same drugs.
Kelleigh Lodge, mitigating, said her client had slipped into taking drugs after losing work during the Covid pandemic and turned to dealing to fund his own habit.
She said: “It is the case that he resorted to supplying drugs over a very short period of time in order to fund his own habit.
“He was working as a joiner but the work died off during Covid.”
The court heard how the defendant had never been in trouble with the police until he started using drugs himself.
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Judge Howard Crowson locked Milner up for two years for all charges.
“You have had a drug dependency issue for some time,” he said.
“When the police came you alerted them that you had the crack cocaine and pregabalin.
“This selling was, in my view, in order to fund your own habit, you are seeking assistance for that while you are in prison and that may well be your salvation.”
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