A DRUG dealer operated by taking money from users before reaching through the open window of his Rugby home for the drugs he was supplying.
Joseph Shallcross was jailed for three years and nine months at Warwick Crown Court after he had pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply them.
Prosecutor Christopher Pembridge said that on March 9 officers from Rugby CID saw what seemed to be an exchange between Shallcross and a known drug user near the corner of Spring Street.
They then parted, and the officers stopped the user who said he had handed £30 to Shallcross who had gone to get the drugs he had paid for.
So Shallcross, 25, was detained when he reappeared, and still had the £30 on him.
The officers then re-traced Shallcross’s route along an access road to the rear of his home in Murray Road where, through an open window, they saw a knife and bags of class A drugs.
Inside the address they found two bags of crack cocaine and a wrap of heroin worth a total of £500 to £600, digital scales with traces of both drugs on them, and just over £50 in cash.
Although Shallcross refused to give officers the pin for his phone, a message received on the user’s phone had made the drugs offer of ‘3 for 25, 4 for 30.’
And that had come from the same number as Shallcross’s landlady had for him, pointed out Mr Pembridge.
David Everett, defending, said Shallcross, whose previous convictions included one for supplying drugs, for which he was given a community order, had been out of trouble ‘for some time.’
He and his girlfriend, who he had not been able to see since being remanded in custody, both suffered from depression which was exacerbated by the lockdown.
“That led him back to using crack cocaine, and he fell into debt and was given the option of take a good beating and still owe the money, or deal in drugs.
“He still faces retribution for his drugs debt, but he is pleased he’s been caught because it gets him out of the spiral of his drug addiction, and he has overcome his initial dependency problems,” Mr Everett added.
Jailing Shallcross, Recorder Charles Falk told him: “It is clear you were involved in a drug exchange, and clearly that address had been used for preparing drugs for sale.
“You were selling to feed your own habit, I accept that. You say you were spending £200 a day on your habit.
“You were working before the pandemic, but you lost your job. You were depressed, and you started to self-medicate. That led to your debt and you started to deal drugs to alleviate that.
“You know better than anyone that drugs cause misery. They are the scourge of society.
“Your case is severely aggravated by your conviction in 2016 for possession of crack with intent, which the court gave you a chance with a community order.”
Speaking after the hearing, Det Cons Tom Quinlan from Rugby Proactive CID said: “We are really pleased with this result; it sends a clear message we will not tolerate drug dealing and we will target anyone supplying drugs on the street of Rugby.
“If anyone has concerns or information about drug dealing in their local area, please don’t hesitate to report it to us on 101. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.”
