Eston dealer avoids prison after 39 bags of coke found in raid

Ben Massey was arrested in August 2024 following a police raid on his home where 39 bags of cocaine were recovered alongside £250 in cash.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 20-year-old was spotted throwing objects into bushes as he attempted to avoid capture.

Officers recovered a discarded mobile phone which contained evidence of drug dealing after searching the area.

Rachel Butt, prosecuting, said: “Officers saw him throw items into a bush near the address and he was detained by police shortly after.

“A mobile phone was located near the bush, it was downloaded and attributed to the defendant through emails and a photograph of his passport.

“There were multiple messages of him selling cocaine to users, there were conversations about price and where he could deliver the drug.”

Massey, of Moorcock Close, Eston, near Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug – cocaine – between June 10, 2023, and August 19, 2024.

The court heard how the defendant had been sentenced to 12-months in a young offenders’ institute in June last year following a violent disturbance in Redcar.

Nathan Davis, mitigating, said his client had pleaded guilty to the drug offence at the earliest opportunity and had been out of trouble since his release from custody.

Judge Deborah Sherwin sentenced Massey to 20 months in custody suspended for two years.

“The offence goes back a while now, to a time when you were 17-18-years of age,” she said.

“The law asks me to take into account people who are under 18 as they are not fully mature and still have some growing up to do and I take that into account.

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“Since you committed this offence, you have already served a sentence for the other matter and since you have been released you have not put a foot wrong.”

Judge Sherwin also issued the defendant with a mental health treatment requirement order with an additional 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

“You have been given a bit of a chance here, please take it and do as the probation service require of you,” she added.

“I wish you good luck in putting all of this behind you.”