Teenager jailed after police find drugs haul in Oswestry

Josh Mason was approached by police at his then home in Hazel Grove in August, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

A Kinder egg was recovered from the 19-year-old and 40 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine were found inside, the court was told.

Mr Paul Spratt, prosecuting, said officers then searched his home, including a vehicle parked outside.

The court was told that in the dining room they found 210 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine.

The drugs were valued at more than £2,000.

Mr Spratt said: "They were plainly for onward sale."

In police custody, Mason tested negative for having drugs in his system.

Mason, now of Walton Road, Liverpool, had admitted two counts of being in possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply at a previous hearing.

Mr Danny Smith, representing Mason, said he had been exploited by other people in a chain.

He told the court: "He was engaged by pressure and coercion and some degree of intimidation by giving him the option of either being involved in this or the consequences would follow."

The court heard he had started smoking cannabis at the age of nine or 10 and had eventually been smoking £80 worth of cannabis a day, although had not smoked in three to four weeks.

A probation officer said he was "extremely remorseful" for his actions.

Judge Jim Tindal ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.

Sentencing Mason to two years in prison, Judge Tindal told him: "You were sent to youth custody last year.

"It wasn't very long after you came out you found yourself in this position.

"This was not a case really where you were being given some of your stuff you were selling.

"This was a conscious choice by you to make easy money.

"Bluntly you should have known better."

He said that heroin and crack cocaine "kill people" and "blight lives".

After passing sentence, Judge Tindal told Mason: "Take the next 12 months to sort your life out. "You need to come out and sort your life out and get a proper job.

"You are still young enough and you could do that."