Pensnett drug dealer jailed for four-and-a-half years (From Dudley News)

Pensnett drug dealer jailed for four-and-a-half years

11:46am Friday 26th October 2012 in News

A 22-YEAR-OLD Pensnett man who started selling drugs to feed his £350 a week cocaine habit and clear his £13,000 debt to his own dealer has been locked up for four-and-a-half years.

Ryan Harper was arrested when police stopped his car and discovered a stun gun which was capable of causing "considerable" harm Then, when they searched Harper's home, they recovered a substantial quantity of Class A and B drugs with a street value of more than £11,000 - Mark Rees, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He said police seized cannabis, methadone, cocaine and diazepam tablets together with drug dealing paraphernalia.

When interviewed by officers - Harper, a former mechanic, maintained the drugs were all for his personal use and he was granted bail.

But when police went back to the house in Fairgreen Gardens they found more drugs including crack cocaine and £340 in cash.

Harper admitted eight charges of possessing controlled drugs with intent to supply and also having a prohibited weapon – the stun gun.

Timothy Talbot-Webb, defending, said Harper's addiction had left him with mounting financial problems and he had started drug dealing.

At the time his habit was costing him £350 a week and he did not have the money to pay for the drugs. Mr Talbot-Webb said: "He had fallen into debt with the person who was supplying him. But at the peak of his debts he owed the man £13,000."