A Nottinghamshire family coerced into selling cannabis were labelled the 'most unlikely band of criminals' by a judge. Chelsea Toulsen, 27, roped in her mother and step-father to help pay her abusive ex-partner's drug debt by dealing cannabis.
Maxine Parker, 58, and Lyndon Parker, 48, also of Limetree Road, assisted Toulsen in selling cannabis from May 2018 to January 2020. But on January 6, 2020, the two nearby homes were raided by Nottinghamshire Police, with officers finding drug bags and £225 in cash.
Evidence from seized phones showed extensive conversations related to sales and that Toulsen had a diary in her property detailing people's orders. Tom Heath, prosecuting, told Nottingham Crown Court cannabis was found on a kitchen worktop, with one amount worth £4,080 found at one of the properties.
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He acknowledged Toulsen had previously made police reports about her ex-partner, but did not mention the drugs to them. Lucy Jones, mitigating for Toulsen, said it was a "small operation" which she had been coerced into by her ex-partner, and that there was no evidence of any lavish lifestyle funded by criminality.
Emma Coverley, mitigating for Maxine, said Toulsen's parents were faced with a "very invidious" decision to help her. "It is not quite a case of an organised drug clan. This is a family situation in which two parents are being asked to help their daughter," she said.
She added Toulsen's mother was scared of what would happen to her daughter if she did not help. The court heard Lyndon Parker had told his legal representative he did not have much to do with the drug dealing.
All three pleaded guilty previously at Nottingham Magistrates' Court to intent to supply a Class B drug and supply of a Class B drug. The trio had no previous drug offences.
Recorder Adrian Reynolds said: "Just looking at the people in the dock it does not have the feel of a commercial operation [suggested by the prosecution]. These are people of good character or virtually good character."
Lucy Jones, mitigating for Toulsen, of Limetree Road, Hucknall, said the abuse from her partner had affected her mentally and that she was "a different person when in the relationship". Toulsen was given a suspended sentence of 12 months, as well as having to attend 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and paying a portion of the prosecution's costs.
Maxine and Lyndon Parker were both conditionally discharged for an 18-month period and also had to pay part of the prosecution's costs. Sentencing the trio after remarking the passing of time since the offence had also served as a mitigating factor, Recorder Reynold, said: "A more unlikely band of criminals I do not think I have seen. [Toulsen] there were reasons that led you into this. I do accept in relation to your mother and step father that you were put in a very difficult position."
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