A drug dealer waited nearly five years to learn his fate after he was caught red-handed by police. Billy Unthank could have gone to prison if he had been dealt with nearer the time he committed the offence.
But his sentence of two years was suspended for two years at Nottingham Crown Court given the passage of time. He pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply. Two co-accused were previously handed suspended prison sentences.
Unthank, of Gilt Hill House, Kimberley, was caught with the drugs on his person at a property in Midland Road, Eastwood, on December 14, 2017, and more than £400 in cash. Proceedings against him were only started in 2019 and "there was a substantial delay before the first court hearing," said Gurdial Singh, prosecuting on Thursday (September 1).
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"There is no suggestion it was as a consequence of what was done by this defendant," added Mr Singh. Judge Mark Watson, who sentenced Unthank, said: "That is almost two years before he is in court, despite police catching him red-handed".
Unthank was just 19 years old at the time of the offences. He is now 24 years old. "So it is five years on," added Judge Watson. "You were not charged for two years, despite being caught red-handed. That is not your fault.
"You entered a guilty plea at this court. That was almost two-and-a-half years ago. Since then you have been awaiting sentence for this serious matter.
"There has been no further offending in terms of drugs supply or matters more closely related to that type of offending. You have a partner. You have prospects for the future.
"It seems to me, if I sent you to prison today for something five years ago when you were much younger, that would not be justice in the case".
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