Cocaine addict sold drugs as he tried to pay off spiralling debts

A COCAINE addict who was drawn into selling drugs to pay off spiralling debts has been sent to prison.

Shane Workman, of Market Place, Radstock, owed £3,000 a week to his suppliers and more to banks after losing his job and spiralling into addiction.

The 29-year-old became tangled in a vicious cycle of dealing drugs to keep up with payments to suppliers, before being caught by police in a raid on his home, a court heard. The pressure to repay his suppliers was so high that while on bail for his first offence, Workman was caught with more drugs a week later as he attempted to sell his way out of trouble with bigger dealers.

In total, the police recovered 227.5 grams from Workman with an estimated street value of £17,000.

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Workman pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing a class A drug with intent to supply at Bristol Crown Court and he was sentenced to five years in prison.

Prosecuting, James Ward told the court that police found Workman rushing to his bedroom when they entered his property on January 27.

"The reason he was rushing was that there on the bed were bags of cocaine and £490," Mr Ward said.

"A further £2,000 in cash was found under the bed and more cocaine was found in the bathroom."

A total of 81.85 grams were recovered and Workman was bailed by police.

But on February 3 the defendant was stopped by police in his car, Mr Ward said.

The court heard that the police used sniffer dogs to search the car and found five bags containing 146 grams of cocaine with a value of £9,000, hidden in the dashboard.

In his plea, Workman stated: "When my home address was raided the money was taken which I owed to the person who sold me the drugs.

"I owed the money still and was directed to take more drugs to sell off more debts."

Mitigating, Susan Cavender added: "He would have liked to have stopped what he was doing but was under pressure.

"He was the victim of naive exploitation under the influence of those above him in the chain."

Ms Cavender added that Workman was selling drugs after falling into decline when he lost his job which he had had for eight years.

Judge Julian Lambert told the court: "In many ways this case shows how cocaine blights people's lives.

"But it goes further than that, like ripples in a pool, except there's nothing quaint or serene about it.

"The dealers above make other people's lives misery while making money from the drugs."

Judge Lambert gave Workman two five-year sentences for the separate offences.

The sentences are to be served concurrently.