Grandmother who scammed pensioners by pretending to be charity worker sentenced for supplying drugs
A grandmother who scammed pensioners by pretending to be a Children in Need fundraiser has now been sentenced for selling crack and heroin.
Vanessa Millard, of Hayling Grove, Penn, was caught red-handed selling drugs with Mojahed Zadeh, 43, of Newhampton Road East, Whitmore Reans, in Wolverhampton in July 2022.
Police recovered a mobile phone used to run their drug line which revealed details of the illegal operation including the day rate the pair were paid to street deal - £150.
Prosecuting Philip Beardwell said: "Two police officers saw a car in the middle of Russell Street, Wolverhampton. The police could not get past the vehicle so PC Allerton approached the car on foot.
"When he looked in the side window he could see Miss Millard sitting in the front passenger seat. He happened to look into her lap and saw a clear bag on her lap containing white, brown and pink wraps.
"Mr Zadeh was the driver, and two mobile phones were found on him. The messages on the phone showed the owner of the phone derived an income from selling drugs.
"They were both arrested. When Miss Millard's home was raided officers found a quantity of heroin and crack cocaine. Officers recovered 2.92 grams of crack cocaine and 5.69g of heroin. There were also crack pipes in the house."
He added: "There was a list of expenditures and debts owed."
Millard's previous convictions include burglary and in 2016 several nasty thefts from vulnerable pensioners in Willenhall by pretending to be a Children in Need worker, for which she was jailed for 18 months.
In mitigation for Millard, who was late to court for her sentencing, is trying to rebuild her life by looking after her grandchild.
Zedeh has two previous convictions for drug dealing, and was on bail when he was caught twice subsequently. He is currently serving two-year 10-month sentence for dealing crack and heroin after being found guilty during a trial in 2022.
Defending Zadeh, Mustapha Hakme said: "These are incredibly small amounts of drugs. Before his first conviction he was a man of good character. Since he has been in prison who has passed drugs tests with flying colours."
Both Millard and Zedah pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply, crack cocaine and heroin.
Judge Simon Ward sentenced Millard to 19 months, but suspended the sentence for six months. He handed Zedah 21 months but ruled it would be concurrent to his last sentence.
He said: "Miss Millard, I am going to suspend your sentence. I cannot remember the last time I suspended a sentence for possession with intent to supply. I cannot do that for you Mr Zedah, because it is your third conviction.
"Back in July 2022 you were a man of good character but you were not when you came before me in March, but you have kept off the drugs in prison.
Millard will be the subject of a six-month drug rehabilitation order and Millard will have to present herself at court and be tested regularly.
Judge Ward said: "Miss Millard I shall see you again, Mr Zedah I hopefully will not see you again, when you get out of prison, hopefully you will stay off the drugs."