Drug dealer found with ?15k cocaine stash in Asda bag between his …

A hard-up Bridlington drug dealer was found with a stash of high-purity cocaine, worth nearly £15,000, hidden in an Asda carrier bag tucked between the legs of his tracksuit bottoms.

On another occasion nearly six months earlier, he was searched by police and was found with two packages of crack cocaine and heroin hidden between his buttocks, Hull Crown Court ^[1] heard.

Michael Severn, 31, of Tennyson Avenue, Bridlington ^[2], admitted possessing cocaine and heroin with intent to supply on July 26 last year and January 4. He also admitted possessing cannabis on May 17 last year and possessing a knife on December 1.

Jazmine Lee, prosecuting, said that police in Bridlington went to Tennyson Avenue on May 17 last year and found Severn's door open. They heard him say: "I'm here, I'm here."

A phone was seized and £430 cash. Cannabis was found in a Roses chocolates tin. More cannabis and scales were found in the flat.

On July 26 last year, CCTV operators alerted police after spotting people awaiting a drug deal in Gladstone Terrace, Bridlington. Severn was involved in a drugs exchange and went into a nearby house before returning to the group.

Police saw him heading up the Promenade area, past Trinity Church, and he tried to get away. He was eventually detained and had £230 cash on him.

He was taken to Bridlington police station and, during a search, was found with two packages of crack cocaine and heroin between his buttocks.

The knife incident on December 1 was discovered after police were told by CCTV operators that Severn was leaving Tesco in Hilderthorpe Road, Bridlington, with a knife.

He was seen running into Clarence Road. Police ran after him and detained him. Severn told police: "It's in my bag. I wasn't going to use it anything like that."

On January 4, police went to a Bridlington property to see another man but Severn appeared. He was searched and he had an Asda carrier bag between the legs of his tracksuit bottoms. There was heroin with an estimated street value of about £1,000 and 184g of high-purity cocaine, valued at £14,720.

Severn had convictions for 23 previous offences, including possessing cannabis and heroin in 2012 and 2019. He had served lengthy prison sentences but not for drugs, the court heard.

Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, mitigating, said that Severn had been struggling financially at the time and had been unable to work because of problems, including epilepsy, so turned to drugs.

"At the time, this defendant had a substantial drug addiction," said Miss Kioko-Gilligan. "He was funding that through the sale of drugs. That is no excuse. He has, while in custody, had time to reflect."

He had, while in custody, been trying to help others and to "stop them falling into his trap". He was on a reducing medication prescription.

"Overall, this defendant's future is much brighter," said Miss Kioko-Gilligan. "He hopes that, when he is released, he can continue the good work that he has begun."

Judge John Thackray KC told Severn: "You were involved in the significant supply of Class A drugs. You are no doubt familiar with the devastation that Class A drugs cause in our communities.

"Lives are destroyed and you were playing your role. You were on two separate occasions involved in supplying Class A drugs, heroin and crack cocaine."

Severn was jailed for six-and-a-half years. A total of £662.40 cash seized will be forfeited and given to the St Paul's boxing charity, Hull.

References

^{^} Hull Crown Court (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)
^{^} Bridlington (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)
^{^} Wanted man jumps from 'top-floor' window to escape police (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)