65-year-old Shrewsbury cocaine dealer was selling drugs 'to top up his pension'

Robert Revill, of Racecourse Green, Shrewsbury, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court after pleading guilty to one charge of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

Aaron Lyn Kew, prosecuting, said the offences had taken place between June 7 and 25, 2024.

He told the court that Revill had pleaded guilty on a basis that he had become involved due to his own drug use, and was directed to manage a phone arranging drug deals for “three to five days a week” during the indictment period.

The court was told that police in an unmarked car had seen a red Hyundai Kona on Whitchurch Road in Shrewsbury at 3.10pm on June 24.

Officers suspected the car had been involved in drug supply in the area and followed it into the Morrisons car park.

They then saw the vehicle pull up next to a black Ford Mondeo, with what appeared to be a drug deal taking place.

Mr Lyn Kew said officers then saw the Hyundai pull off towards the cash machine, and decided to pull it over.

The court heard that Revill was found to be the driver, and that packets of cocaine were discovered in the central console of the vehicle - amounting to 0.57g.

The defendant was found to have £130 cash on him while two telephones and £240 cash were also seized from the vehicle.

Mr Revill’s home was searched and officers found snap bags of white powder, amounting to 5.64g, worth up to £660.

The search also uncovered scales with white powder residue, a knife which appeared to have been used to cut cocaine, and a ‘line’ of white powder on a surface that appeared to be arranged for personal use.

One of the telephones was also found to contain messages indicative of drugs supply.

In an interview with police Revill said he was doing it “to top up his pension”.

Debra White, mitigating, said Revill had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, and made admissions in his police interview.

She added that the defendant is also due to have serious spinal surgery later this year.

She said: “He is clearly in a lot of pain and discomfort daily and is on a cocktail of prescription drugs.”

Sentencing Judge Peter Barrie said: “You know the seriousness of this sort of offending because you were given a 30 month jail sentence for it in 1997, which is something I have to bear in mind.”

He added: “A community order is wholly inappropriate for this level of offending and it must be some sort of prison sentence. The seriousness of dealing class A drugs must be recognised.”

Revill was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

As part of the sentence he must complete 12 sessions of a mental health treatment requirement, and five rehabilitation activity requirement days with the probation service.