'Don't be kind to him': Judge urges Shrewsbury drug dealer's family to keep him on straight and narrow
The defendant had booked taxis in his own name using a drug dealing phone
A judge told a drug addict’s family “don’t be kind to him” as he sentenced him for dealing cocaine in Shrewsbury.
Judge Peter Barrie urged Matthew Williams’ mother, father and ex-partner to help keep him on the straight and narrow after allowing the 39-year-old to narrowly avoid prison.
“Don’t be kind to him,” Judge Barrie told them as they listened to proceedings from the public gallery at Shrewsbury Crown Court.
“If you can sense he’s slipping back, you will do him no kindness if you turn a blind eye.”
The court was told how on February 10 this year police received information that Williams was at the address of a “vulnerable person”.
Officers executed a warrant at the property and found Williams inside.
A search was conducted and two mobile phones were found. Police had a phone number that was connected to a drugs line, and when they dialled it, one of the phones rang.
It was examined and found to contain messages indicative of drug dealing.
“The messages show he was dealing directly to users,” said Alura Bather, prosecuting.
Williams had also booked taxis in his own name using the phone.
Officers also discovered a line of white powder, three snap bags with remnants of white powder, a diary with drug-related notes, a bank card and a £10 note.
Williams, of Cornwall Drive, Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, was arrested and gave a “no comment” interview to police.
He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a class A drug. The dealing took place between November 25 last year and his arrest in February this year.
Debra White, mitigating for Williams, said: “He was doing it to pay off his own debt and fund his own habit.”
She also said Williams pleaded guilty at the first opportunity at the crown court, and that he had engaged the support of the Shropshire Recovery Partnership in his battle with addiction.
Judge Barrie sentenced Williams to two years in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered him to complete a six-month drug rehabilitation programme.
Williams was also made subject of a 12-week curfew, banning him from going out at night, and ordered to complete up to 20 days of rehabilitation activity and pay a £500 fine.