Shropshire pusher addict gets six years in prison
A Shropshire drug addict who funded his own habit by supplying others has been sent to prison for six years.
Sean Gater had wrecked his own life with his multiple drug and alcohol addictions, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.
The 41-year-old was arrested at the Lantern Community Centre in Shrewsbury last August with silver foil wraps of crack cocaine in his possession along with more than £1,500 in cash.
Gater admitted offences relating to three incidents.
These were producing cannabis and possessing a Class A drug in October 2013, possessing a Class A drug in March 2014 and possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply in August 2014.
After hearing of two previous drugs offences in 2001 and 2008, which meant he had to impose a minimum term under a 'three strikes' law, Judge Martin Butterworth jailed Gater for five years and eight months for the latter offence.
He imposed a further four months imprisonment for the other offences.
Gater will have to serve half the sentence in custody before being released on licence, the court heard yesterday.
Mr Phillip Beardwell, prosecuting, said Gater was arrested at an address in Frogmore Road, Market Drayton October 2013.
Police found 14 cannabis plants growing and a quantity of heroin.
He was bailed but during a police search five months later he was found to have a bag of heroin on his person.
In August last year police went to the Lantern Community Centre in Meadow Farm Drive, Shrewsbury, where they found Gater under the influence of drugs.
They also found he had a number of wraps of crack cocaine, scales and money on him.
In all £1,500 was seized from Gater, of Alexander Road, Market Drayton.
Mr David Swinnerton, for Gater, said his client had made nothing from his activities, spending whatever he had to fund his drug and alcohol habits.
"He was in the grip of multiple addictions and says drugs have wrecked his life," he said.
"He has begun to see, later in life, to see the folly of his ways.
"His neurological problems, probably brought on by drugs, has frightened him," Mr Swinnerton added.
