Jailed: Drug dealer caught with heroin, cocaine and cannabis in Oswestry

Jack Maguire was just 17 when he was caught with wraps of heroin, cocaine and some cannabis.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard Maguire had likely been taken advantage of by those higher up in the chain of drug dealing. Police had been called to Oswestry Health Centre to reports of suspicious behaviour at 9.20am on May 9, 2016.

There they saw three men, including the defendant who made off on foot.

Prosecuting, Mr Jonathan Dickinson, said they followed until he ran into a home in Monkmoor Close where he attempted to hide in a spare room.

He was found and detained by police who searched him and found £85, a mobile phone and two small lumps of cannabis.

Mr Dickinson said: “He was taken back to the police vehicle and along the route the defendant had run they found more drugs.

“A silver wrap was found with six individual wraps of heroin and one of cocaine

One officer had remained in the room where the defendant had attempted to hide and a search found further heroin and cocaine. There was a total of 38 packages of the drug with an estimated street value of £380.

On July 2, Maguire, 18, of Queen’s Drive in Walton, Liverpool, admitted three charges, two relating to possessing class A drugs with intent to supply and a simple possession charge relating to the cannabis.

Miss Kyra Badman, for Maguire, said he had suffered with anxiety and depression.

She said it was the first time he had ever been in trouble and that he had found it a very “difficult” experience.

She said he had his own debts from cannabis which had led to him taking part in the crime.

Miss Badman added: “He is a vulnerable person who people higher up in the business model, likely in Liverpool where this defendant is originally from, can use in this way.

She said he was fearful of the repercussions he could face by not paying off his debts.

Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Gosling said he understood the legal process had been difficult for Maguire.

He said: “Once you enter the world of dealing drugs you become involved with very dangerous people and it takes control of your life.”

He accepted Maguire’s early guilty plea, the pressures he had faced and that he was not likely to have been dealing in class A drugs regularly.

But he said he had no other option than to impose a custodial sentence of two years, of which he would serve half in custody and the remainder on licence.

He also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and mobile phone that had been found, and the seizure of the money.

Maguire must also pay a victim surcharge.

Judge Gosling said: “I hope never to see you in court again.”