A police dog sniffed out a drug dealer who hid his stash inside a car panel. Ryan Baker had been pulled over by police but an initial search of his car had failed to find any narcotics, although he did have £145 in an envelope.
However when a dog handler attended, the dog directed officers to crack and cocaine which had been secreted within the vehicle's bodywork. There were 42 bags of crack cocaine and 17 bags of cocaine, worth up to £1,180.
Details of the stop and search
Newcastle Crown Court heard Baker was driving in Gateshead on October 29 2023 when he was stopped by police. During a subsequent search of his home, police found drugs paraphernalia including scales and his mobile phone contained messages indicative of drugs supply.
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.
Court remarks and background
Recorder Ruwena Khan told him: "You were in a period of addiction. The cycle of addiction can result in other crimes to fund such habits. As the supplier, you were also assisting others in that vicious cycle of debt, addiction and crime."
Baker pleaded guilty on the basis he was heavily addicted to cocaine at the time and had built up a debt to his dealer and he said he was holding onto the drugs for a dealer at the time to reduce his debt.
He has since become a wind turbine technician and now has a "stable family environment" and his partner brings stability to him, the court heard.
