‘Pathetic’ drug dealer is jailed
A FILEY drug addict slammed by a judge as a “somewhat pathetic” figure has been jailed.
Craig Andrew Pratt, 43, of West Avenue, was sentenced to two-and-a-half-years in prison after pleading guilty to supplying heroin and cocaine and breaking into a Filey cafe to feed his habit.
York Crown Court heard Pratt had fallen into debt with “evil local dealers” and had been assaulted and threatened by the group, which Matthew Harding, mitigating, said led Pratt to dealing in Class A drugs to raise money and pay off his debts.
He had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to one charge each of supplying heroin and cocaine, and one each of possessing the drug with intent to supply.
Pratt also appeared for sentencing for burglary of Lavingtons Cafe in Filey on September 20 last year and three offences of shop theft in Scarborough, all committed to raise money for his own drug habit.
Prosecuting, Howard Shaw, told how undercover police officers watched Pratt as he was approached by a number of men in a Scarborough cemetery.
As he left the graveyard, a well-known haunt of local drug addicts, Pratt was stopped and searched, £360 worth of heroin and £40 worth of cocaine being found hidden in a plastic egg inside his underpants.
Pratt and another man entered the cafe by smashing their way through a ventilation fan with a hammer. Mr Shaw said that this act dislodged a large amount of grease in which police later found foot and hand prints.
The men were later arrested in a taxi, leaving the scene covered in grease, the hammer later being found at Pratt’s home.
The court heard the damage, estimated at £150, was caused, £70 in cash and a silver tray taken.
Mr Shaw said that the shop thefts involved Pratt stealing razor blades and bedding from three premises.
After jailing Pratt, Recorder Eric Elliott QC told him he had fallen like many into the grasp of drug dealers - “evil people who use any way they can to make themselves rich”.
He added that Pratt was somewhat pathetic for dealing with drug dealers to keep his own cravings going.
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Weather for Filey
Thursday 20 June 2013
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Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 15 C
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Wind direction: East
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Light rain
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