A drugs den containing thousands of pounds of heroin and cocaine, a cannabis farm and weapons was discovered after police pulled over its occupant in a car.
When Gareth Smith was stopped in Holywell, Northumberland in May this year, officers formed the view his home should be searched as they believed he may be under the influence of something. When they got there they found the house was "given over to the supply of drugs."
There was 455g of heroin, 100g of cocaine, scales, tablets, 30 cannabis plants, an air weapon, balaclava, nunchucks, crossbow, a long-barrelled weapon and a knuckle duster. The heroin was worth up to £12,000 and the cocaine £5,000.
Read more: Soldier left pensioners badly hurt in 'moment of madness' overtake in Northumberland
Newcastle Crown Court heard Smith, 40, of The Brambles, New Hartley, Northumberland, had agreed to warehouse the items after developing an £80 a day heroin habit after getting addicted to opiate painkillers following a car crash. He also started gambling and drinking.
He pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and heroin with intent to supply, producing cannabis and possessing an offensive weapon - the knuckle duster, as the other weapons were not held illegally. Jailing him for three years and five months, Judge Julie Clemitson said: "Clearly the trade in class A drugs is responsible for so much human misery - those wretched souls who are addicted and the people affected by the crime caused by those who are addicted.
"Those higher up the chain will often exploit people to facilitate their particularly vile trade. Without people like you to keep large quantities of drugs, they would not be able to prosper. Without people being willing to store them, those criminals would be less able to succeed.
"For anyone who faces the choice between storing drugs and weapons and doing the right thing, it's important to understand the consequences of choosing to help criminals makes them criminals themselves."
The judge acknowledged Smith has medical conditions and added: "You felt intimidated by those to whom you owed large sums of money as a result of your own drugs misuse. You have now moved in with your parents and have kept your distance from those criminals who were influencing your life and you would like to move abroad with your parents for a new start."
Steven Reed, defending, said Smith, who has no previous convictions, had been exploited because of his addiction. He added that he has taken action to address his heroin and alcohol issues.
Read more:
- Wallsend carer used vulnerable Parkinson's sufferer's bank card to buy herself cigarettes and sweets
- Great Park business owner struck female PC in the throat when she tried to intervene in domestic row
- Gran charged at by son's hammer-wielding neighbour over fence repairs request in Shiremoor
- Northumberland man spared prison for £6,000 cocaine stash he was looking after for a friend
- Northumberland arsonist torched employer's van in revenge for not being paid promptly
