Prolific drug dealer Irie Lewis has been convicted of crime so often he's only spent two birthdays in his adult life out of jail. And now the father-of-four is back in prison, a court heard.
Police who searched his home and a car found drugs and cash, Bristol Crown Court was told yesterday (February 28). And they found footage on his phone of him saying: "This is what I do, I take risks."
Lewis, 27, of Constable Road in Bristol, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possessing criminal property. Judge James Patrick jailed him for six years and four months.
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The judge told him: "You've got a bad record for drug dealing. You have previous convictions for trafficking in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019.
"You were on licence at the time. You offended within a month of your release."
Susan Cavender, prosecuting, said a police raid on Lewis recovered crack cocaine valued at £1,650, 83 per cent pure cocaine valued at £80 and heroin valued at £1,900. They also found £6,980 cash.
The court heard Lewis has eight convictions for some 25 drug offences. His latest offending qualified him for a seven-year minimum prison sentence, before discount for guilty plea.
Laura Collier, defending, said her client had not played a leading role in dealing. She conceded he was on licence after having not long been released from custody for similar offending.
Miss Collier told the court Lewis had a 'precarious' upbringing and started dealing drugs aged 16. She told the court: "He has only had two birthdays as an adult out of custody.
"He has spent most of his adult life in prison. Quite simply, it is all that he has known.
"It is tragic to see the lack of support he received when he was growing up. He says that this is a point of change for him."
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