Bassetlaw man jailed for selling cocaine while armed with baseball bat and CS gas

Nottingham Crown Court heard police stopped Darren Taylor in his car in Retford on October 18, 2019, with drugs, cash, a baseball bat and a can of CS gas.

Jon Fountain, prosecuting, said a search of Taylor’s home revealed 38 grams of cocaine, valued at £3,000, and more than £25,000 in cash.

Taylor, aged 39, of Everton Sluice Lane, Everton, admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of offensive weapons.

Sentencing, Mr Recorder William Harbage KC told him: “You were dealing to a number of customers – certainly in double figures – sometimes as much as two ounces.

“In 2019 I have read you were at a low ebb.

"You had an accident at work, you were unable to work and you had financial problems.

“You resorted to cocaine, you got into debt and started to pay off that debt by selling cocaine.

“The supply of drugs is such a pernicious trade because it sucks people in.

“That’s why the court treats it as seriously as it does and that’s why the court can’t overlook what you were doing in 2019.

“You have some previous convictions – not many and they’re old – and they don’t include the supply of drugs.

“You have a great deal of mitigation.

“I have read with great care the references that you have produced and letters written by you and your partner.

“For this reason I find this falls at the bottom end of the range.”

Taylor was jailed for a total of 30 months.