A “trusted lieutenant” and drug courier who transported cocaine to pay off a debt has been jailed for three years.
Keith Nettleton, 36, was caught by high-visibility police patrols in a “hot spot” area in Gresham, Middlesbrough.
He was seen coming from a Ford Ka then taking a mountain bike from an unidentified woman on Peel Street.
He was stopped and searched and “between £600 and £900” cash found in his jacket pocket, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday.
Initially he was arrested on suspicion of money laundering.
He was searched at the police station and a plastic egg containing drugs discovered “in the customary place”, said prosecutor Sue Jacobs.
He was carrying 24 bags of cocaine and crack cocaine, some at high purities of 78% and 83%.
In total the drugs were valued at £775.
Nettleton, of Longford Street, Ayresome, Middlesbrough, admitted possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.
He had 96 previous offences on his record but none for drugs.
Sean Grainger, defending, said: “This is a young lad who was addicted to drugs from an early age.
“From approximately 13 onwards he’s been taking essentially everything that could be purchased in this town, and been heavily addicted for many years.”
He said Nettleton usually stole to fund his habit and was not a regular dealer.
He added: “He got into a drug debt and was given a job to do to clear it.
“He was a drug addict, got into debt and he was asked to transport drugs and money that evening.
“He’s obviously not top of the chain. He’s carrying drugs in an egg secreted on his person. He’s got quite a lot of money.
“He’s been a trusted lieutenant to look after this stuff and pass it on.
“He knows he’s going to prison for a significant amount of time and he has accepted that.
“He was not making a significant amount of money from drug dealing or preying on vulnerable people. He’s a vulnerable person himself.”
Judge Deborah Sherwin told Nettleton: “The reason why you became involved in this was to get drugs or money for drugs for yourself.
“You were acting as a courier.”
Giving him credit for his guilty plea and taking into account his lack of previous drugs convictions, she jailed him for three years.
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