‘He has got himself completely clear of drugs. This has been an utter wake-up call for him’
Drug-dealing dad Jack Taylor(Image: Hull Live)
A party-loving drug user was found with high-purity cocaine that he was selling on the streets – but he was certainly not doing so as “a charity” and “providing them for free”. Father-of-four Jack Taylor went from taking drugs on a “party basis” to doing so every day and he started supplying friends to help raise money for his own addiction.
He only had “himself to blame” but his arrest had been an “utter wake-up call” for him, Hull Crown Court heard. Taylor, 28, of Royal Mews, off Anlaby Road, Hull, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply on December 7.
James O’Connor, prosecuting, said that police went to a house on an unrelated matter and Taylor made himself known in the garden. There was a search and police found a black purse containing 24 snap-bags of cocaine, with a high purity of 90 to 91 per cent.
The estimated street value of the cocaine was about £1,200. “It was packaged in such a way as to facilitate street dealing,” said Mr O’Connor.
There was £160 cash in eight lots of £20 notes. Taylor claimed that the money was from legitimate benefits payments. “There was an expectation of significant financial reward, given the value of the drugs,” said Mr O’Connor.
Taylor made mainly no comment replies during police interview. He made reference to cannabis being his drug of choice. He had convictions for 15 previous offences, including possessing an offensive weapon in a private place and possessing cannabis.
Holly Thompson, mitigating, said that Taylor pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. His previous offences were linked to him being a drug user and there was a pattern of offending.
At the time, his main leisure activity was going out to parties and taking drugs. “He went from taking drugs on a party basis to taking them on a daily basis,” said Miss Thompson.
“He knows too well the damage that drugs can do.” His drug use started to spiral in December. Taylor claimed to the probation service that he was dealing to friends, the court heard.
“It’s clearly street dealing,” said Miss Thompson. “He has demonstrated clear and genuine remorse. He is not seeking to hide from his actions at all.
“He knows that he has been incredibly stupid and he has only himself to blame. There has been no more offending of any kind.
“He has got himself completely clear of drugs. This has been an utter wake-up call for him.”
Recorder Brian Whitehead said that Taylor claimed that he had been supplying drugs to friends. “You weren’t a charity,” said Recorder Whitehead.
“You weren’t providing them for free. You weren’t looking to make large sums of money for yourself. Your main purpose, I accept, was to fund your own habit. Perhaps you did have an expectation of some gain.”
Taylor was given a 20-month suspended prison sentence, a three-month monitoring order, 10 days’ rehabilitation and a probation service Building Choices programme.
Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away by clicking here.
