A North East father who was described as "capable of earning an honest living" has been jailed after cocaine was discovered in his car and more than £10,000 was seized from his home.
Thomas Boucher was in a BMW when he was stopped by police on April 13. Officers found a tin containing 19 bags of a white substance, later confirmed as cocaine, and an extendable baton in the side of the driver's seat.
Court details
At Teesside Crown Court, prosecutor Elisha Marsay said the cocaine was worth between £1,520 and £1,900. Two mobile phones were also found on the front seat. After his arrest, a search of his home uncovered £10,160 in cash, scales, empty bags, and a 'tick-list' of debts.
Boucher, 42, of Elkington Close, Thornaby, pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply and possession of an offensive weapon. He had 15 previous convictions for 24 offences, including one for possession with intent to supply heroin.
Mitigation
Eleanor Bohill, mitigating, said there was "clearly an expectation of financial gain" but evidence suggested Boucher was in debt. She added: "There's no evidence that suggests that he had any influence over those above him in the supply chain."
She noted his previous drug supply conviction dated back to 2004 when he was 20, and that he had faced "exceptionally difficult circumstances" over the last six years, including being attacked with a machete. Boucher, who has an 18-year-old son, had been trying to relocate and had secured a job and stable accommodation.
Sentence
Judge Richard Clews sentenced him to two and a half years in prison, saying: "It's a great shame that you decided to act in this way. You were quite capable of earning an honest living. But drugs, particularly Class A drugs, are a scourge of society."
