Teen dealer claimed he was trying to pay back debt to suppliers

Tuesday 25 July 2023

An "active" teenage dealer of class A and class B drugs – who claimed he only did it to reduce a £5,000 debt to his own suppliers – has swerved jail.

However, Paulo Ricardo Assuncao Santos (18), who was handed 180 hours' community service, was warned he could have faced a lengthy prison sentence were it not for his age when he appeared in the Royal Court for sentencing on Friday.

He was 17 years old when he was caught with cocaine, cannabis and cash last year, and subsequently admitted charges of possession of drugs with intent to supply and of being concerned in the supply of drugs.

Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae told him that if he had been older he would be facing a jail term "measured in years and not months".

The teenager was stopped by a police officer at 02:00 on 7 November and said he had been "on a bender".

Advocate Luke Sette, prosecuting, said: "When he was asked if drugs were involved he became nervous and tried to back away."

He fled but was soon caught and his rucksack was found to contain 23 grams of cocaine, 41 grams of herbal cannabis, 21 grams of cannabis resin and £425 in cash.

It also held a mobile phone containing messages which showed he had been involved in supplying drugs, including ketamine, a class B drug.

Given his lack of previous convictions and early guilty pleas, Advocate Sette said: "The Crown has concluded, by the finest margin, that a non-custodial sentence can be imposed."

He recommended a 180-hour community service order and a 12-month probation order.

Advocate Sarah Dale, defending, accepted Advocate Sette's recommendation but said that her client was the victim of exploitation by other dealers.

He had started using drugs aged 16 and owed money to his own suppliers money, and she said: "The benefit to him was to reduce the considerable debt of £5,000 that he had amassed."

She added: "He takes full responsibility and blames himself."

Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae told the teenager: "You are an active dealer of class A and class B drugs."

He said that agreeing to a community punishment and probation order "had not been an easy decision for the court".

He added: "You should be in absolutely no doubt at all that had you been an adult at the time you would be commencing a lengthy sentence of imprisonment, measured in years and not months.

"You're being given a chance. We hope we won't see you again in this court or any court."

The other Jurats presiding were Gareth Hughes and Mike Berry.