Thornaby addict turned to dealing to fund his own habit

When police raided Callum Briggs’s home they recovered cocaine, cannabis and cash after he pointed them in the right direction.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 26-year-old told officers where they could find his stash of Class A and Class B drugs.

Tabitha Buck, prosecuting, said Briggs maintained that he turned to dealing after he racked up drug debts of his own and was selling to fund his own habit.

She said officers recovered drugs from a North Face manbag and inside a set of drawers in the kitchen where cocaine was discovered and cannabis was found in an upstairs room.

A specialist officer estimated that the drugs had a street value of up to £3,000 in cannabis and up to £4,500 in cocaine.

Briggs, of Laurel Avenue, Thornaby, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, and possession of criminal property – the £1,635 in cash – seized during the raid on November 6 last year.

Albany Kidd, mitigating, said her client was compliant with the police when they entered his property and pointed them in the direction of the stashed drugs.

She added: “He suffered the bereavement of his father around two years ago in very difficult circumstances.

“He turned to illicit substances as a coping mechanism and quickly accrued a debt with the dealers.”

Recorder Ayesha Smart sentenced Briggs to two years in custody, suspended for two years.

“You were in substantial debt with dealers and you were struggling for money to feed your own habit, so you engaged in the sale of drugs to pay off the debt,” she said.

“What is clear is that you were directed by someone higher up the chain and your involvement was limited to street dealing.”

Briggs was also ordered to attend 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.