Dealer caught with heroin in his underwear gets four years jail
A drug user turned to street dealing to fund his own habits after getting into debt, a court heard.
Michael Tabbie, aged 40 and from Wolverhampton, has been jailed for four years after being caught with heroin and crack cocaine in his underwear twice.
Prosecutor Mr Lukas Eddy told Shrewsbury Crown Court that Tabbie was spotted by police in a car in Brookside, Telford, on April 11, 2017, when a known drug user approached the vehicle.
Tabbie noticed the police and ran off, but returned to the car and drove away from the scene. He was chased and police stopped the car.
He tested positive for cocaine in a roadside drug test and more than £220 was found in the vehicle along with two mobile phones.
During a strip search at Malinsgate Police Station, he removed a plastic package containing 14 wraps of crack cocaine from his underwear, totalling 2.4g, with an estimated street value of £210.
In a police interview he said it was all for his own use.
He was not charged until July 5, 2018 and was on police bail when he was caught out again, less than two weeks later.
Mr Eddy said Tabbie was in the passenger seat of a taxi in Telford on July 18 this year when he was stopped and detained for a drug search.
He again had two mobile phones on him and was taken to Shrewsbury Police Station to be strip searched.
He removed from his underwear a 5.75g rock of crack cocaine, valued at £220 or £570 if broken up into smaller deals.
There was also £600 to £800 worth of cocaine, potentially worth up to £1,200 if divided, four packages of crack cocaine valued at £40, and £100 worth of heroin.
Texts found on the phone suggested Tabbie was dealing the drugs. He gave no comment in interview.
At his initial Telford Magistrates’ Court appearances he pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and one of possession of heroin with intent to supply. But he later changed his plea and admitted all three charges.
Mr Eddy said Tabbie had previous convictions for possession of steroids and heroin, violent offences and perverting the course of justice.
Mr Paul Smith, defending, said Tabbie suffered from sickle cell anaemia and lost his job due to his poor health. He had a drug habit and ended up in debt to his dealers after becoming unemployed.
Judge Phillip Wassall sentenced Tabbie, of Florence Road, Wolverhampton, to four years imprisonment.
Detective Sergeant Jon Taylor, from West Mercia Police, said: "We're working tirelessly to stop people coming into to Telford to commit crime and deal drugs and I hope this sends a message to those involved in county lines that we are targeting them.
"We have already seen some significant results targeting county lines and will continue to build on these successes.
"Our absolute priority is protecting our communities from those causing the most harm and, together with our partners, we will do all we can reduce the impact of serious and organised crime."
