A cocaine dealer who was at court for sentencing lost his nerve and fled the building before his case was called on.
John Carr, 45, was then on the run for three months before being re-arrested. He was yesterday (Tuesday, October 11) jailed for two years and four months. Liverpool Crown Court heard Carr only sought solace in Class A drugs six years ago after his sister died.
Barrister, Brendan Carville, said: "He went to pieces and started using heroin and cocaine. He had mental health problems as result of her death. He initially started borrowing money off his mother to buy drugs and later started selling at street level.”
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Mr Carville pointed out that only £30 had been found belonging to him which was indicative of his level of dealing.
The barrister added: “His expectation was to feed his own habit. His family have come to support him. They are shocked, they did not know he was selling drugs. They knew he had a problem but not to this extent.”
Carr has been in custody since being arrested after a warrant on October 4 and it is the first time he has been clean of drugs and his first time in prison. His father has offered him employment in catering as long as he stays clean.
Carr, of Halkyn Drive, Everton, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply. The court heard that he has previous convictions involving drugs.
Joanne Moore, prosecuting, said that police stopped the defendant about 10.30am on July 21 last year because he was smoking cannabis. He gave his correct name and address but when asked if he had anything else on him he said, ”Not really, just this and threw the lit cigarette at one of the officers in order to run off.”
As he ran off he discarded ten wraps of white powder, a Motorola phone and £30 cash. Officers went to his home and were let in by his dad. Carr was locked in the bathroom and after police forced the door open he was found discarding items down the toilet.
He was searched and more wraps of cocaine were found in his bedroom, said Mrs Moore. He later pleaded guilty and attended the crown court for sentencing on June 14 this year but left the building before his case was called on leading to the bench warrant being issued.
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