Delivery for dealer cost man two years in jail

John Stuart Briggs agreed to deliver heroin only once, as payment for drugs he turned to in an attempt to cope with family traumas.

A court heard yesterday that the 30-year-old was questioned by a detective, who was acting on intelligence, when he got out of a taxi on April 12.

Briggs, from Kilwick Street, Hartlepool, was searched and heroin, cannabis resin and £165 were found in his pockets.

In an interview, he told police he was ordered to drop off the heroin at a particular location as payment for his own supply.

He admitted possession of 27.6gm of diamorphine, a class A drug,with intent to supply, and possession of 3.27gm of cannabis resin, a class C drug, at Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said: "The heroin in his possession was 61 per cent. Police believe that would be cut further to maximise profit."

He said if it was passed to another dealer and mixed with other substances, the heroin Briggs was carrying had a potential street value of £5,500.

But it was accepted Briggs did not intend to profit from the drugs himself, so the value was set at £1,380.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said Briggs' family had suffered a number of traumatic events, which caused him to turn to drugs as a coping strategy. He said that Briggs had recently successfully completed a heroin detoxification programme.

Mr Constantine said: "His family really needs him at this moment in time. He has not only let himself down, but his family.

"He hopes to return to them to put right everything that has gone wrong in the past."

Briggs was sentenced to two years in custody, less 180 days already served on remand.

The judge, Recorder Henry Posser, told him: "Your sentence has been reduced because of the guilty plea. It was an isolated incident and linked to misfortunes suffered in the family.

"But I warn you, if you ever get involved with offences of supplying class A drugs again, you will serve the mandatory term of seven years imprisonment.