A County Durham teenager who has admitted street-level supply of cocaine claims he was being “exploited” at the time of the offending.
Reuben Sawicki was aged only 17 after being found to be in possession of cocaine in the summer of 2024.
He was arrested in August last year and subsequent examination of his seized phone revealed several months of exchanges of messaging relating to drug transactions.
The now 19-year-old defendant was charged with possessing a controlled drug of class A, a quantity of cocaine, with intent to supply, between December 14, 2023, and July 31, last year.
Appearing at a plea hearing today (Tuesday December 16) at Teesside Crown Court, Sawicki admitted the charge.
Asked by Judge Jonathan Carroll as to the amount of the drugs seized from the defendant, prosecutor Cainan Lonsdale said the total quantity was valued at £310, but the messaging found on his phone spanned a lengthy previous period.
Tony Davis, for the defendant, requested preparation of a background Probation Service report prior to sentence being passed.
“The issue is that at the time he was 17 and since then he has appeared before the court and is subject of a community order which I’m told he has engaged well on," he said.
“The basis of his plea, which is more or less mitigation, relates to the exploitation he was under at the time.”
Mr Lonsdale said the Crown would indicate if it accepts that basis by January 9.
The community order referred to by Mr Davis was imposed at Durham Crown Court in April when Sawicki, of Charters Crescent, South Hetton, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.
He was made subject of an 18-month community order, with 160 hours’ unpaid work and ordered to attend 15 rehabilitation activity sessions overseen by the Probation Service.
Following the defendant’s latest guilty plea over the cocaine supply charge, Judge Jonathan Carroll told him: “I’m making no promises or giving any indications as to sentence.
“It will be listed for sentence at Durham Crown Court next month.
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“I’ve adjourned for a pre-sentence report partly due to your age and because an order is already in place.
“You must understand that in adjourning I’m giving no promises or indications and all options, including custody, remain open for the sentencing judge.”
The judge bailed the defendant to attend Durham Crown Court for the sentencing hearing on January 23.
