AN “exploited” dealer who was caught peddling cocaine and MDMA has been spared prison after his case took three years to come before a sentencing judge.

Thomas Jackson, 25, was caught up in a Class A drug supply operation on various dates in January 2019 at addresses in Dovercourt.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard in one police sting a BMW registered in Jackson’s name was searched by officers, with drugs found inside.

Jackson was eventually caught inside a “trap house” – a base for peddling illegal drugs – on January 30. He admitted possession with intent to supply 5g of MDMA and 8.47g of cocaine.

Appearing for sentence on Friday, barrister Caroline Milroy said Jackson had endured a period of “great anxiety and stress” while waiting for the case to conclude over the past three years.

“He’s arrived terrified today,” she said.

Judge David Turner QC said Jackson, of Harcourt Avenue, Dovercourt, had made “quite an exceptional journey” over the past few years in turning his life around.

In an act of mercy, he suspended a two year prison sentence for two years, with conditions to complete a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Turner said: “Class A drugs wreck people’s lives, they break up families, they lead to children being taken away from parents and they feed crime.

“The use of Class A drugs has become an immense social and personal problem for a great many people.

“That’s why those who get drawn into the supply business receive very little sympathy from the court.

“That’s why, save in the most exceptional circumstances, people go immediately to prison.”

READ MORE: 

He said Jackson had around six previous convictions for ten offences, but none were related to drugs.

Judge Turner added complicating events in Jackson’s life, including the “pain and distress” of separation from his children, did not justify his “move into drug dealing”.

But the court accepted the offender had fallen in with a bad crowd and was likely being “used and intimidated” by those higher up in the chain.

“These were people in a different league to you,” Judge Turner said.