Two young street-level drug dealers have escaped immediate prison sentences, having remained out of trouble for almost three years since the offence.

Paul Mullen and Ryan Peachey were each given suspended prison sentences at Durham Crown Court, but both must carry out periods of unpaid work.

The court was told police found the pair in a Volkswagen Passat which was suspected to have been involved in drugs offences.

Uzma Khan, prosecuting, said it was stationary at a road-side in Horden, on October 3, 2020.

The Northern Echo: Young street-level dealers were found in car containing drugs and cash pulled up at the side of a

Mullen was in the driving seat and was on the phone when officers approached the vehicle.

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A search of the car uncovered two Kinder eggs containing white powder, four phones, three said to ‘burners’ to be discarded later, plus a large amount of £1 and £2 coins.

Miss Khan said £300 was found in the driver’s sun visor and a further £360 in Mullen’s track suit trouser pocket.

Further searches of their respective home addresses at the time uncovered another two phones.

Miss Khan said 27 deals of both cocaine and crack cocaine were recovered, both with an estimated street value of £540.

She said messages on Peachey’s phone were said to be indicative of drug use on his behalf.

Neither Mullen, who was 19 at the time, or Peachey, then 20, responded to any police questions.

Miss Khan said it was accepted that Peachey had drug issues at the time and was said to be trying to meet his debts through assisting in dealing.

Mullen, now 22, of Emerson Square, Thornley, admitted possessing cocaine and crack cocaine with intent to supply.

Peachey, also now 22, of Morris Crescent, Thornley, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a class A drug, as an acceptable alternative to the charges faced by his co-accused.

His guilty plea was made on the basis that he had drug issues at the time and was meeting his use through involvement in supply.

Read more: Police seized £14,000 from West Cornforth cocaine dealer

Sam Faulks, for Mullen, said he, too, was trying to service a drug debt, referring to the pre-sentence probation report of a mention of him owing up to £2,000 at the time, while he was said to be earning only about £50 a day from his activities.

“That’s not a ‘significant financial advantage’.

“It’s street dealing and should be seen as playing a ‘lesser role’.”

Mr Faulks said his client had a difficult upbringing, witnessing the deaths of loved ones though drug misuse, and he described him as having led, “a transient lifestyle”.

He told the court: “It’s surprising that it’s his first offence, committed at 19-years-old, and he’s now 22 and hasn’t gone on to commit any further offences.

“He’s managed to stop using drugs, has a young child and has the offer of becoming a steel erector.

“It’s a genuinely useful alternative to prevent him becoming more criminally associated.”

Helen Towers, for Peachey, said he played a “subordinate role” and none of what was found in the vehicle belonged to him.

“He was in the midst of a significant addiction to cocaine at that time.”

But she said, like his co-accused, he has changed his lifestyle, also has a young child, and is now working.

Recorder Tom Moran said the time which has passed since the offences and the change in both their lifestyles during that period enabled him to take, “a wholly exceptional course”.

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He concluded that it was not in the interests of justice to follow the usual sentencing guidelines in such cases and added that the delay in the case reaching court was largely not of the defendants’ making.

Recorder Moran imposed a two-year prison sentence on Mullen, suspended for two years, during which he must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and take part in 35 probation-run rehabilitation activity days.

Peachey was given a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, during which time he must undergo 150 hours’ unpaid work.