Six drug dealers from across the North East have walked free from court despite being caught red-handed with illegal substances. The offenders, based in communities from Gateshead to Sunderland, and Newcastle to Middlesbrough, were stopped by police as they attempted to flood the region with drugs.
Aaron Swinhoe caught with £19,000 of cannabis
In one case, drug dealer Aaron Swinhoe avoided prison after he was found with £19,000-worth of cannabis stashed in storage tubs at his Sunderland home. Police raided the address in November 2024 and discovered quantities of the class B drug hidden in his garage and car.
Nearly 18 months later, Swinhoe, of Chestnut Crescent, in Sunderland, appeared in the dock to face one count of possession of cannabis with intent to supply. He pleaded guilty to the offence during a hearing at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court this week.
Paul Barrett's airport bust
Former soldier Paul Barrett brought 20 kilos of cannabis and a kilo of ketamine into Newcastle Airport on a Jet2 flight from Faro. As he appeared in court to be sentenced, he shouted "get in there" when he was told he wasn't going to prison.
It was at around 2pm on May 4 when Barrett, of Southport Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, arrived in Newcastle and was stopped by customs after collecting his suitcase from the carousel. Inside the case, officers found four packages containing 20.5 kilos of cannabis resin and another package with 1.12 kilos of ketamine. The wholesale value of the drugs was £80,000, but they would have been worth much more when broken down into deals.
Appearing at Newcastle Crown Court this week, the 38-year-old, who has 18 previous convictions, including for possessing cocaine with intent to supply, was given "one last chance" by Judge Sarah Mallet, who sentenced him to 18 months suspended for two years with 100 hours of unpaid work.
Ryan Baker and Ammar Malik sentenced
A police dog sniffed out drug dealer Ryan Baker, who hid his stash inside a car panel. Baker had been pulled over by police, but an initial search of his car failed to find any narcotics, although he did have £145 in an envelope. When a dog handler attended, the dog directed officers to crack and cocaine secreted within the vehicle's bodywork. There were 42 bags of crack cocaine and 17 bags of cocaine, worth up to £1,180.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Baker was driving in Gateshead on October 29 2023 when he was stopped by police. Baker, 34, of Park Terrace, Swalwell, Gateshead, who has nine previous convictions, pleaded guilty to possessing crack and cocaine with intent to supply. He was sentenced to 16 months suspended for 16 months with 200 hours of unpaid work.
Ammar Malik, a busy drug dealer with hundreds of followers online, was caught with a kilo of cannabis at his home. On September 20 2024, police stopped a VW Golf driven by Malik in Newcastle. In the car, they found two mobile phones, £965 cash, and a small bag of cannabis. They searched his home and found just under £3,000 in cash and around a kilo of cannabis, worth up to £5,000.
Malik, 21, of Merlay Hall, Walker, Newcastle, had set up a profile on two online platforms and had 200 to 300 followers on each, advertising deals of up to five ounces for £650. He pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply and possessing ketamine. He was sentenced to 16 months suspended for two years with 250 hours of unpaid work and must pay £1,000 costs.
Chantelle Straughan and Lennox Narey
A judge slammed single mother Chantelle Straughan, who claimed she was coerced into transporting drugs after accumulating a £5,000 debt. Straughan, 31, admitted possession of a class A drug with intent at an earlier hearing on the basis that she acted as a courier only. This was accepted by the prosecution.
She was caught with 147g of cocaine when her car was searched by police on March 2. Police officers intercepted her and searched her VW Golf on Brookfield Avenue in Middlesbrough. Straughan, of Scholars Road in Sunderland, received an 18-month prison term suspended for two years. She must complete 30 rehabilitation days and undertake 120 hours of unpaid work.
Lennox Narey was found in possession of around £2,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine after falling off an electric bike. Narey was out on his bike selling drugs when police pulled up alongside him. A total of £640 was also found in his man-bag.
The court heard that Narey was threatened over his debt, and so he began selling drugs to pay back what he owed. Handing Narey a 31-month prison term suspended for three years, Judge Kidd listed additional conditions. The dad, who now lives in Thorntree, Middlesbrough, will be tagged for the next 12 months. He must complete 240 hours of unpaid work, attend 35 rehabilitation days, pass a 12-month drug rehabilitation order, and be under a home curfew from 7pm to 6am for the next six months.
