A DRUG dealer who sold crack and cocaine to pay off debts to ‘dangerous people’ has been jailed.
Ashley Burroughs – who also admitted to police that his dealing helped him pay for designer clothes – pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply, and one count of possession of cocaine with intent to supply.
At Warwick Crown Court on Wednesday March 29, the 28-year-old, of Bilton Road, was sentenced to two years in prison.
Detectives caught Burroughs dealing in Rugby three times – firstly at a hotel near the town centre in June 2021.
Plain-clothes detectives saw a known drug user enter the hotel and leave a short time after. Soon afterwards, they spotted Burroughs leaving the hotel, so detained him for a search.
He was found to be in possession of crack cocaine, cash, scales and a mobile phone containing various drug-related text messages, including: “You about with a bag?”
He was arrested and, in interview, answered ‘no comment’ to all questions.
Burroughs was caught again two months later when he was detained and searched in the town centre.
He was found to have wraps of crack cocaine divided into individual deals, cash and two mobile phones.
One of the phones contained text messages proclaiming: “Started my flake line up again,” adding, “got the most sickest flake.”
Burroughs was arrested and again answered ‘no comment’ when he was interviewed.
Then, on February 2 of this year, Burroughs was caught again after detectives saw him leave a house in Bilton Road and engage with a known drugs user in an alleyway.
When they approached Burroughs, he tried to run away but was detained.
Cash and a mobile phone were seized from him, and a small bag of cocaine was found on a shed roof close to where he was detained – with detectives believing Burroughs had thrown it so as not to be caught with drugs.
Burroughs was arrested and detectives searched his room in the house he was staying in, where they found more cash, drugs, deal bags, a debit card in someone else’s name, a kitchen knife and a baseball bat.
When asked why he had continued to deal drugs, Burroughs explained that he owed money to others from the two previous occasions on which he was arrested.
When asked if he had been forced into dealing drugs, Burroughs said: “You either do it or bad things happen.”
When asked to further explain, Burroughs added: “I don’t want to be a rat.”
Burroughs also said his wages were low and he supplemented his income with drug dealing so he could dress well, go to the gym and eat healthily.
Det Const Thomas Quinlan of Rugby CID said: “Burroughs wanted to go to the gym and wear designer clothes – and he was happy to sell deadly substances to vulnerable people so he could do that.
“When he was caught the first time he landed himself into debt with quite dangerous people, and this activity became a little more serious for him than getting some extra cash.
“For those wondering if getting involved with violent gangs and dealing toxic drugs to vulnerable people for a bit of extra cash is worth it, I’d hope this provides an answer.
“With that said, all of us at Rugby CID hope that Burroughs enjoys using the gym facilities in prison.”
