A DEALER who complained he “couldn’t be arsed” to carry on selling Class A drugs has been warned a prison sentence is likely.

Police officers found 164g of cocaine boasting a street value of almost £10,000 when searching a lock-up rented by Jacob Archer on May 29 of last year.

When they executed a warrant at his home in Main Road, Harwich, they found drugs paraphernalia and traces of cocaine, before later seizing mobile phones relating to the sale of drugs.

Archer, 29, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine when he appeared before magistrates in April.

Matthew Kirk, prosecuting, told Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday Archer was part of a drugs line operating in Harwich between May 2020 and February 2021.

But Mr Kirk revealed a text to an individual named Amber on Archer’s mobile phone read: “I’m gonna sell me phone man, cba with doing it anymore. I want out.”

The court heard further messages hinted the 29-year-old wanted to shift responsibility of the drugs line to someone else, but he was told to stump up at least £5,000 to cover for any losses those above him might incur.

Sasha Bailey, mitigating, admitted the defendant, who is training to become a mechanic, is “clearly running for Amber” but insisted there was no way out unless he sold the line.

She explained: “The reason Archer found himself in this situation is he is someone who had his own drug addiction. He accrued a drug debt and was told he was required to work off that debt.

“Once it got past a stage where he cleared that debt he continued to work and he accepts he continued to make a financial gain.”

However, a debate ensued between barristers in the court over whether Archer was running the drugs line or if he was following instructions, and therefore was of lower culpability.

Judge Timothy Walker stated the prosecution should be given time to consider this new angle and adjourned proceedings to the week of August 1.

Warning Archer, he said: “I appreciate you came to court today expecting to be sentenced, likely a custodial one.

“I stress this outcome is still likely.”