Thornaby dad forced to deal drugs after threat to ‘cut head off’

Simon Martin would pick up the Class A drug from his supplier before delivering the cocaine to the customers and returning with the cash.

The 34-year-old drug addict used the mobile phone for at least two weeks last year when he was tasked with clearing his own £1,000 drug debt.

Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said the defendant was arrested at his home but the mobile phone connected to the drug supply network was never recovered.

She said: “The defendant submitted a basis of plea following his arrest, he said ‘I have been using cocaine for about five years and I am addicted to cocaine – I have a drugs debt’.”

Miss Atkinson said Martin told police he had no influence over anyone in the supply network adding ‘they threatened to cut my head off if I refused to do it – I was scared for myself and my family’.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the mobile line sent bulk messages and it was attributed to Martin in September last year and he was recorded adding credit to the mobile phone.

Martin, of Gilmour Street, Thornaby, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and breaching his bail conditions when he failed to appear at a previous court hearing.

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Sarah Lish, mitigating, said her client was only involved in dealing in cocaine to clear his own drug debt and it had now been completely paid off.

She added: “The fact that the phone was not found at his home address supports his basis of plea that it was indeed passed around – which is what he said.”

Recorder Judy Dawson sentenced the dad-of-three to a total of 20 months for both offences.

“You performed a limited function under direction and there was some form of pressure involved,” she said.