A drug dealer was stopped and found with an array of drugs - but officers found an even more disturbing collection of weapons at his house.
Ewen Campbell, 42, was pulled over and searched on Booth Street, in the city centre, in March this year, with officers reporting smelling a strong smell of cannabis coming from inside the car.
Police found a plastic pot containing a number of bags of white powder and a sum of cash in his pocket. He was seen to have a ‘bulge’ in his trousers, which upon further inspection was found to be another bag of cannabis, Manchester Crown Court heard.
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Further snapbags fell out of his trouser leg, and more drugs and cash were found in his wallet as officers were arresting him.
However, it was the terrifying collection of weapons recovered following a search of his bedroom in Rusholme which caused concern.
“There were 9mm firing rounds, a black handed kitchen knife under the pillow, an axe also under the pillow and a machete at the side of his bed,” prosecutor Antony Longworth said.
“There was a knife which incorporated a knuckle duster underneath his bed too. This is prohibited from being in possession in a private place.”
Officers found a further 18 bags of cannabis, six bags of MDMA and 11 bags of cocaine. The prosecutor said Campbell acted as a ‘street dealer; and suggested the reason he had the weapons was due to prior attacks and those looking to ‘take advantage’ of his illegal activity.
Campbell, of Tommy Bromwell Close, was said to have a number of previous convictions going back to 2006 including possession of cocaine.
In mitigation, defence counsel Patrick Buckley said the period of time between his last appearance before the courts, and these offences suggests he is ‘capable of leading a normal life’.
“He has had some personal tragedy in his life due to the pandemic,” Mr Buckley added.
Sentencing, Judge Timothy Smith said: “You were in work and without issues with the police, but your uncle died in 2020 and your brother died in 2021 and there was a period of redundancy which led to you experiencing financial difficulties. You resorted to cannabis and cocaine use and were spending about £200 a week on drugs.
“You resorted to the sale of drugs as you have done in the past.”
The judge accepted he had ‘genuine regret and remorse’, but said he had been dealing drugs over a period of time.
Campbell was jailed for 32 months, of which he will serve half in prison before serving the rest on licence, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis, possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and possession of criminal property.
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