Darlington heroin dealers have cash confiscated by courts

Jamie Stainsby and James Roberts were caught after police spotted one of them acting suspiciously while driving a BMW.

The pair were arrested after the car was abandoned in Darlington and a subsequent search of their homes recovered £11,000 worth of heroin stashed in a wardrobe and more than £1,000 in cash.

The Class A drugs were found in the home of Roberts and Stainsby’s DNA was recovered from the bag the drugs were stored in, Teesside Crown Court heard last year.

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Analysis of two mobile phones seized from Stainsby revealed hundreds of messages relating to drug dealing including ‘adverts’ letting everyone know that he was back selling product.

On Friday, the pair were back at Teesside Crown Court for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing when Stainsby was ordered to pay back £1,079.39 in cash from the £43,850 it was estimated he had benefitted from drug dealing.

Roberts had £120 seized by police after it was estimated that he had made £20,482 from selling heroin.

Nadim Bashir, prosecuting, said the money was already in the hands of the authorities and would be easily recovered following the uncontested hearing.

Jamie Stainsby

Judge Chris Smith said Stainsby had 28 days to comply with the order while Roberts was given seven days.

Last March, the court heard how Stainsby had bought a BMW the day before his arrest on December 27, 2019, and officers believed it was stolen so attempted to pull it over.

Following a short pursuit, officers arrested Stainsby near the BMW which his had abandoned on Carnaby Street. Roberts was also arrested after he loitered at the scene.

The court heard there was 800-pages of mobile phone evidence downloaded from Stainsby’s mobile phone which showed he had been involved in dealing heroin for several months and included a number of postings saying he was ‘back on’ to supply.

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Stainsby, now 23, formerly of Redworth Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to three charges of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply a Class B drug and possession of cannabis.

While Roberts, 24, formerly of Meadowsweet Lane, Darlington, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs – heroin.

Judge Howard Crowson sentenced Roberts to two-years in custody, suspended for 18 months to reflect his ‘time served’ in custody and the delay in his sentencing.

Dealing with Stainsby, the judge jailed him for five years and two months.

He said: “Your telephone text traffic reveals substantial dealing, this is clearly not your first foray into it as there was text messages reintroducing yourself to sell Class A drugs.”