Man swaps drug dealing for place at university

A DRUG dealer has walked free from court after it was said he had won a place at university.

Jake Higgins had hundreds of messages concerning the supply of cocaine and cannabis.

Higgins had been dealing the illicit substances over a sevenmonth period, between August 2017 and March 2018.

Derby Crown Court heard police searched his Derby address in March 2018 and found a mobile phone that contained messages concerning supplying drugs, as well as a small amount of cannabis.

The court heard the drugs search warrant was executed on March 8, 2018.

Sarah Slater, prosecuting, said: “Various items were seized from the property. There were scales and a mobile phone and various amounts of cannabis.

“Messages confirmed that he was for a period of time in late 2017 involved in the supply of cannabis and cocaine.”

Ms Slater said police found hundreds of messages on the phone which concerned the supply of both drugs. She said he was supplying to eight or nine people.

Judge Robert Egbuna, who presided over the case, handed the 24-year-old a suspended sentence for his actions.

Stephen Tettey, mitigating, did not open his mitigation as Judge Egbuna told him how he was going to deal with Higgins.

Judge Egbuna told the court that the defendant had “rehabilitated himself” and that he had a university place.

He said: “Since his arrest he has taken steps to rehabilitate. He has got a university place. It is appropriate in the circumstances to suspend the sentence.

Higgins, of Sinfin Fields, Allenton, Derby, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis, supplying cannabis and supplying cocaine.

He was handed a two year sentence which was suspended for two years and a four-month curfew between 9pm and 5am.