Metheringham bin man jailed for nine months for drug dealing

Bin man Alex Archbald, 22, of Blacksmith Court, Metheringham, was caught with nearly 100 grams of the drug after police stopped him on the Metheringham industrial estate on July 11, last year.

Lincoln Crown Court heard officers also recovered a set of scales and small amounts of cocaine and cannabis from the vehicle.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said Archbald appeared to be under the influence of drugs and in his own words admitted “he was in trouble.”

Police found two packages of ketamine weighing 47 and 48 grams and a mobile phone. The drugs value was estimated at around £3,800.

Mr Howes said analysis of the phone showed Archbald was street dealing and also selling at festivals and parties.

One message sent to seven people read “got K in,” the court heard.

Archbald pleaded guilty to supplying Ketamine between May 11 and July 12, 2015, and possessing small amounts of cannabis and cocaine.

David Eager, mitigating, told the court: “Until a few months before he was apprehended by the police he was a hard working young man. He did not do particularly well at school but he got a job working on the bin lorries.

“The question is whether this young man with no previous convictions and of positive good character, who is in employment, serves an immediate prison sentence or if it can be suspended.

“This was about a year ago. Since then he has had no time off work because he does not take drugs any more.”

Passing sentence Judge Simon Hirst said he could not avoid sending Archbald to jail.

The judge told Archbald he would serve half of his sentence in prison which would mean he would be able to start a college course in September.