A two-time convicted drug dealer from Huyton has been jailed after confessing to police that he had a stash of ketamine hidden down his trousers. John Dooley, 20, of Marton Road in Huyton, was given a second chance by magistrates only six months before he returned to trafficking class B substances.
Having displayed a "disgraceful attitude" in response to his previous suspended sentence, a judge told him as he was locked up: "It is the inevitable consequence of you making such a choice. All choices have consequences, and this is the consequence for you."
Arrest and discovery of drugs and knife
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Tuesday that police attempted to stop Dooley on Coronation Drive in Whiston on June 22 this year having suspected him of drugs offences. While the 20-year-old attempted to run from officers, he was ultimately detained and found with a 30cm lock knife in his bag.
Simon Christie, prosecuting, described how Dooley went on to admit that he "would use the weapon to protect himself" when interviewed. He was subsequently released on bail before being arrested again only four days later.
At this stage, Dooley was found in possession of a mobile phone which contained a string of messages indicating his involvement in the supply of both ketamine and cannabis. Having been transported to Wirral Custody Suite, he then confessed to having a stash of the former drug in his trousers. This led to the recovery of five snap bags, weighing a combined 9.1g, although Dooley initially claimed to detectives that this had been for personal use.
Background and defence submissions
Dooley has four previous convictions for eight offences, with magistrates imposing an eight-month sentence suspended for 18 months in December last year for possession of cannabis with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of ketamine, cannabis and cannabis resin.
Simon Mills, defending, told the court: "He was introduced to drugs himself at 15 years of age. Inevitably, and it is perhaps almost an intended consequence of involving young people in taking drugs, he accrued a debt. That is wanted in order that people can gain control over young, inexperienced and vulnerable people."
"Of course, he then needs to commit offences to fund his own habit, to fund that use of drugs and to try to stave off those people who have drawn him into this business in the first place. It is obvious that he is doing this to fund his own use of drugs."
Mr Dooley has put himself in a very difficult position here. He is a young man who has been drawn into the world of drugs from a very early age and has to pay off his debt. "He is anxious to return to his mother as soon as possible. He tells me that he wants to put this kind of lifestyle behind him as soon as possible. He accepts that his history makes it difficult for him, particularly his recent history in breaching the suspended sentence order in the way he has. But he is clear that he wants to put as much distance between himself and those who he feels exploited by as he can."
"He has a job in custody. He works in the laundry from the morning till noon. He is somebody who is trying to make the best use of his time. He wants to undertake courses. He has previously undertaken a college course with respect to mechanical engineering and welding. He struggled with it and he was unable complete it. As he approaches greater maturity, he wants to undertake that kind of course again. He wants to have a job in that kind of trade. That is someone, in my respectful submission, who is clearly thinking of the future."
Sentencing and judge's remarks
Dooley pleaded guilty to possession of ketamine with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cannabis and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey Berghaus t-shirt, he was handed 20 months in a young offenders' institute.
Sentencing, Recorder Katie Jones told him that the knife was "clearly capable of causing significant damage if used in a confrontation" and added: "You were subject to a suspended sentence order which you were already being breached for not attending appointments or not having very good attitude when you did attend. You did eventually complete the unpaid work requirement and curfew."
"It is clear that you have a really supportive family, and it is clear that you are extremely immature. You are young, but also very immature and you display a significant lack of thinking skills. Your response to supervision previously has been very poor."
"You had an expectation of a significant advantage, which was the reduction of a significant drug debt which you had accrued. I do not accept the submission that you involved yourself simply to fund your own habit. It went beyond that, in my judgment. I have concluded from what I have read that, very sadly, at the moment, the chances of you being rehabilitated, having read about your current attitude, is quite low. I have factored into that conclusion the disgraceful attitude that you did display at times on the recent suspended sentence order."
"In any event, those that choose flagrantly reoffend when subject to a suspended sentence order, particularly those who flagrantly reoffend in exactly the same way, must expect that they will face immediate custody. That, in my judgement, is the only appropriate punishment. It is the inevitable consequence of you making such a choice. All choices have consequences, and this is the consequence for you."
