Telford dealer who sold drugs to pay off debts avoids prison
A Telford man who sold drugs to try to repay his debts has avoided an immediate prison sentence.
Ashley Vandeschur, 20, of Hurleybrook Way, was scared of those he owed money to and was pressurised into getting involved in the dealing, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.
Vandeschur, who admitted possession of drugs with intent to supply, was given a 20-month jail sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to take part in a drug rehabilitation programme.
Mr Kevin Jones, prosecuting, told the court that police stopped Vandeschur in September last year. When he was searched he was found to have wraps of heroin and cocaine worth almost £500, several mobile phones and £314 in cash on him.
Mr Philip Beardwell, for Vandeschur, said his client had been totally unaware of the seriousness of what he had been doing.
"He couldn't pay off his own drug debts and got into trouble with some very unsavoury characters," he said.
Judge Jim Tindall told Vandeschur that by selling drugs he was putting people into the same situation he had found himself in.
"Think about what drugs have done to your life and think about the lives that you have blighted by selling drugs," he said.
