A former drug-dealing couple have been placed under house arrest after their "fledgling cottage industry" was busted by police. Daniel Atherton, who works in stem cell research and is from Foxglove Close, East Leake, and then partner Caitlin Harper, of Harris Road, Chilwell, tried to drive away from police from a Long Eaton car park when they were caught.
But officers stopped them and smelt cannabis coming from the car, Nottingham Crown Court heard. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine between May 15, 2020, and July 3, 2020, and conspiracy to supply diazepam and Ecstasy pills.
More than 150 Ecstasy tablets were found in the car, and more at Atherton's home address. But crucial phone analysis led to the discovery of their involvement in dealing drugs.
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References were made by Atherton in messages to dealing cocaine, which was described as a "one-off" by Phil Plant, prosecuting.
"Both defendants were playing an active part in a drugs business which sold more than one commodity and sold to street users," said Mr Plant on Monday (April 17).
Recorder Stuart Sparwson ordered both Atherton and Harper to wear electronic tags for ten months - between the hours of 8pm and 6am - when they must stay indoors. He handed them each a 22-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered a £350 contribution each towards court costs.
He said the phones seized showed consistent and persistent advertising of drugs, contacting users and supplying drugs over six weeks - MDMA (Ecstasy), diazepam and potentially cocaine.
"This was a fledgling cottage industry," he added. Both defendants, aged 25, are of good character, have expressed some remorse and were comparatively young at them time, the court was told. They now have settled jobs.
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