Walsall drug dealer locked up for eight months

Lee Butler was today starting an eight-month jail term for possession and drug dealing. S

Stafford Crown Court heard yesterday that redundant delivery driver Butler was enticed into dealing after getting in to debt with loan sharks. Officers searched his house on March 6 last year.

They discovered a sealed black bucket, which contained cannabis and two bags of amphetamine.

The estimated street value of the amphetamine was between £15,000 and £19,000, while the cannabis was worth £3,620.

Also seized during the raid was £3,500 in cash and a mobile phone that contained drug-dealing text messages.

Mr Paul Farrow, prosecuting, said the messages were from people either complaining about the quality of the drugs, or asking for more.

The Crown's case was that Butler was on the next level up in the dealer chain, supplying the street dealers.

When questioned, the 39-year-old claimed he was looking after the drugs for someone else. He owed people money and was asked to keep them at his house.

Butler, of Weston Drive, Walsall, admitted two charges of possessing drugs with intent to supply and was jailed for eight months.

Judge Michael Chambers told him: "Those who get involved in dealing on this scale cannot avoid an immediate custodial sentence."

Miss Sophie Lomas, defending, said Butler was working as a delivery driver supporting his wife and family when he was made redundant.

"He was laid off and he has struggled financially, borrowing money from an unwise source – a loan shark. There has been problems in that respect, that's what led a man with no history of drug abuse to this situation," she said.