A doctor's son has been jailed after he was caught pedding drugs on the streets of Newcastle.
Police were on duty in Fenham when they smelled cannabis and their attention was drawn to Melusi Gamede, who was standing on a street corner. Kevin Wardlaw, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "On seeing the officer he became very nervous and was touching his waistband of his shorts. It was quite obvious he was concealing something and he was dealing drugs."
He was searched and ten bags of Spice were recovered from him, along with £2,000 in cash. His home was searched and further drugs were found.
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In total he had 315g of Spice and £17,205 in cash. Police also found a taser - described as a "drug dealer's weapon of choice", along with a small amount of cannabis and four knuckle dusters. Text messages showed he had been involved in dealing drugs for a year, including up to an ounce at a time.
Gamede, 32, of Bertram Crescent, Benwell, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to possessing Spice with intent to supply, concealing criminal property, possessing a prohibited weapon and possessing cannabis and was jailed for two years by Judge Christopher Prince.
Jonathan Pigford, defending, said he got the taser from a friend who brought it back from holiday. He added that Gamede had been using cannabis and Spice and began dealing to friends and "clearly became successful at it".
Mr Pigford said Gamede was born in South Africa and his mother is a doctor who works in Newcastle. He added: "He is an educated man with a degree in accountancy. He now works as an engineer."
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