Towns like Wem 'overrun' with drugs says judge as he jails dealer for peddling crack and heroin six years ago
The judge said Shropshire market towns are “particularly vulnerable” to drug dealing
A drug dealer whose home was raided twice by police in a matter of months has been jailed - despite a judge being warned sending him to a “drug-filled” prison would be like putting a child in a sweet shop.
Judge Trevor Meegan sent Martin Ellis to jail after the 59-year-old dealt heroin and crack cocaine with his late partner in Wem.
Simon Parry, mitigating, urged the judge to consider suspending any prison sentence due to the “dangers” of drugs behind bars - and the fact the offences took place six years ago.
But Judge Meegan felt the damage substances do to “vulnerable” market towns like Wem was a more important consideration.
Shrewsbury Crown Court was told how officers first raided the home for Ellis and his partner in Cordwell Park on June 30, 2020, where they found 19 grams of heroin, 7g of crack cocaine, mobile phones and £2,393 in cash.
A second warrant was executed at the address around six months later on December 15, when officers found 9.9g of crack cocaine and 1.54g of heroin.
They also discovered weighing scales and £584 in cash.
Incriminating messages indicative of drug dealing were found on the mobile phones.
When he was interviewed by police officers, he claimed the drugs were for his own use and that he was “a heavy user”, but added that he had “some success” buying and selling.
Ellis, of Cordwell Park, Wem, pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. He has six previous convictions for nine offences, but none for drug dealing.
The court was told that Ellis’s partner, who was prosecuted for her part in this offending through the magistrates court, died in 2022 of a terminal illness. It was said that Ellis acted as her carer in her final months.
Mr Parry said: “At the time of this offending, they were taking and addicted to drugs and were having to fund their addictions by selling.”
He said that Ellis’s partner’s illness and death prompted “significant change” in his life, and pointed out that he had not reoffended since.
“He has demonstrated that he is capable of turning his back on drugs supply,” Mr Parry said. “It is remarkable he has got to the position he is in now, having done it all himself.”
‘Back to square one’
Mr Parry urged Judge Meegan not to send Ellis to jail as it would mean all his efforts would be “wasted”.
“The danger about a custodial sentence is that it would put him completely back to square one,” Mr Parry said. “The prison system in the UK is filled with illicit drugs. We see it day in, day out in the media. Drugs are being misused in prisons.
“It would be like putting a child who should not have sugar in a sweet shop and expecting them to just look away.”
But Judge Meegan said towns like Wem are “overrun” with harmful, illegal substances.
“Class A drugs, as you well know, bring misery to individuals, families and communities,” he told Ellis.
“Mr Parry is right when he says the prisons are overrun with drugs, but so are Shropshire market towns. Communities such as Wem are particularly vulnerable.
“These are serious offences involving the supply of class A drugs, and it can only be marked by an immediate custodial sentence of imprisonment.”
He jailed Ellis for two years and three months. It is expected that Ellis will serve 40 per cent of the time behind bars before being released on licence.