A heroin and cocaine dealer claimed “every day I worked my drug debt would decrease” after being caught by police.
Brandon Lonsdale, 28, was spotted by plainclothes police on patrol selling drugs out of a car on August 2, 2023.
Nearly three years on Bolton Crown Court heard how the officer’s suspicions were roused after seeing people appear to speak to someone sat in a Volkswagen.
Madeleine De Ferrer, prosecuting, said: “The VW vehicle was known for its connection to drugs supply.”
She added: “The man in the street engaged with the man in the front seat of the vehicle and the vehicle turned away onto Parkfield Road in Bolton.”
Lonsdale, who has since been jailed for a separate knife offence, watched on via video link from prison.
The officers following the car then saw what appeared to be another drug deal when the men sat in the car appeared to talk to a woman stood in the street.
On stopping the car and arresting the two men inside, one of the Lonsdale, officers found two phones, cash, and two wraps on brown powder which turned out to be heroin.
Ms De Ferrer told the court police then searched the place Lonsdale was staying where they found handwritten notes on a piece of cardboard.
They also found an iPhone linked to the supply of drugs that was traced to the defendant.
Lonsdale, of Park Road, Little Lever, was arrested and gave no comment to police.
But Ms De Ferrer said a basis of plea he provided said he had been working off a drug debt and that “the arrangement was for everyday I worked my drug debt would decrease”.
Brought before the courts Londsdale, who has 20 previous convictions for 29 offences, confessed to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
He also admitted to being concerned in the supply of heroin and concerned in the supply of cocaine.
Amy Weir, defending, said she thanked the prosecution for “the very fair way that the case has been opened”.
But she said that he had earned credit for his guilty plea and pointed out there had been a significant delay in the case.
Ms Weir said: “This is still a young individual with time to change and to turn his life around.”
She said Lonsdale had expressed remorse and hope to deal with his drug addiction.
Addressing the defendant Recorder Geoffrey Lowe said: “You know the impact that drugs have on people.”
He noted that Lonsdale had been a “chronic drug user for many years” and that “although coercion is not mentioned it is implicit in what happened.”
Recorder Lowe jailed Lonsdale for 32 months.
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