Member of jailed drugs trio ‘a main supplier’

Teesside Crown Court was told David Hobson, 24, who drove his black BMW on drug runs, was clearly trusted by dealers higher up the chain to protect their identities.

Police spotted Hobson and Daniel Scott, 22, in a cafe at Asda in Thornaby, near Stockton, on March 29 last year.

When the two realised they were being watched, they fled, and Scott dropped a sock containing £2,655 of heroin.

Officers again saw Hobson in his BMW approach a Renault Clio, with a woman driver, in Sun Street, Thornaby, on July 8.

The woman passed over money and Hobson threw a package of crack cocaine, worth £350, into her car.

Christopher Attwooll, prosecuting, said Hobson and Scott were again in the BMW on August 14, in Fairfield Road, Stockton, when two packages of heroin worth £2,800 were thrown out, the court was told.

Police raided the Thornaby home of Lee Atkinson, 17, on October 29, and they seized heroin worth £1,035. He had six wraps of heroin in his clothing, another six wraps were found in his mother’s room and there were heroin traces on kitchen scales.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said that Hobson had been using drugs since he was 16, and was addicted to Class A drugs when he was 18. He had a previous conviction for possession of crack cocaine.

Mr Constantine said: “He has no intention of returning to using drugs or behaving in such a fashion as will return him to court.”

Judge Peter Bowers said to Hobson: “Clearly, you must be trusted by those who deal in drugs, both to sell on their behalf and to protect their identities and business from others.”

Hobson, of Hazel Road, Stockton, was jailed for 42 months after he pleaded guilty to supplying crack cocaine and possession with intent to supply heroin.

Atkinson, of Beechwood Road, Thornaby, was sent to a young offenders’ institution for three years after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and possession of cannabis skunk.

Scott, of Tithebarn Road, Stockton, was jailed for two years and nine months after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin.

Speaking after the case, Detective Sergeant Tom Drysdale, of Stockton police drugs unit, said he was satisfied with the sentences.

“In particular with Hobson,”

he said. “Although the charges do not reflect his actual involvement, we believe he was one of the main people involved with the supply of drugs within the Stockton district. Anybody who is considering taking over his role will be pursued as he was.”