A teenage drug dealer who hid hundreds of pounds of cocaine and heroin inside himself when caught by police was locked up for four years.
Officers spotted Max Donovan, 18, handing a package to a woman in Belmont Drive, Anfield on July 4 this year, before going into an alleyway to complete the deal.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how Donovan, of no fixed abode, inserted something inside himself when police approached him at around 10.20am.
Mike Stephenson, prosecuting, said the defendant had “a very busy phone”, which was “constantly ringing”, and was carrying £240 in cash.
Donovan was arrested and doctors removed a ball of cling film from his person, which contained 2.57g of heroin, in 20 wraps, and 4.79g of cocaine, in 45 wraps.
The court heard the drugs had an estimated street value of up to £680.
Donovan, with shaggy blonde hair and wearing a bright blue jacket in the dock, started dealing drugs again while on police bail.
Mr Stephenson said he was observed in the front passenger seat of a Renault Clio in Rocky Lane, Anfield on October 29, when he was approached by a known drug dealer.
Officers stopped and searched him and four mobile phones were recovered, along with £684 in cash, but Donovan again secreted the drugs.
He was kept under observation and later passed a package containing 4.74g of heroin in 46 wraps, and 3.85g of cocaine in 43 wraps, with a total street value of around £890.
Donovan admitted four counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. He has no previous convictions.
Augustine Iro, defending, said his client had become addicted to cannabis and after running up a £500 debt, was forced to “work off” the balance by dealing the drugs.
He said: “He lived with his sister. Those he owed money to threatened to cause extreme damage to his sister’s home and he feared injuries could be caused to her.”
Judge David Aubrey, QC, sentenced Donovan to four year’s detention in a young offenders institution.
He said: “Class A controlled drugs cause untold harm and untold damage to those who become addicted to them or to those who use them recreationally.”
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/