Shropshire Star

County lines dealer who hid drugs in teapot jailed after breaching sentence

A ‘county lines’ drug dealer has been jailed after he failed to comply with the conditions of his suspended sentence.

Published
Shrewsbury Crown Court

Evan Jones, 48, was given a 20-month prison term suspended for two years after cocaine and heroin were found in a teapot at his home, in Castle Terrace, Bridgnorth.

Officers also found drugs worth £580, two mobile phones and drugs paraphernalia when they searched his address on February 21.

Jones was given the sentence after pleading guilty to two charges of possession with intent to supply a controlled class A drug.

At the latest hearing he admitted breaching the sentence.

Shrewsbury Crown Court was told that Jones attended just three probation appointments in the 10 weeks after he was sentenced to a 12-month rehabilitation order with a 40-day activity requirement in August.

Mr Paul Smith, mitigating barrister, said: “I don’t think I have seen the word ‘fail’ written so many times in one paragraph.

"I’m afraid the lifestyle that he has led for a long time simply doesn’t help him to comply.

“He isn’t optimistic about what is going to happen today. He is someone with a Class A drug problem."

At the latest hearing Mr Recorder Christopher Millington QC revoked the suspended term originally given to Jones and jailed him for 20 months.

He told Jones: “The court took a merciful view of your position, gave you credit and an opportunity to show that you can comply with a community sentence.

"Unhappily you have not complied. The person who has prepared the report states that there was little attempt made by you so no meaningful work has been possible.”

When the defendant was initially arrested he admitted to police he had been dealing since the New Year and was getting the drugs from a West Midlands operation.

Jones, who has previous convictions dating from 2004, had been warned by the initial sentencing judge that the suspended term was his last chance.

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