A drug dealer caught red-handed peddling a cocktail of drugs to students has avoided prison.
Ieuan Phoenix had a "junkie state of mind" as he sold substances for money which he said he needed to pay student debts, medical fees and to set up a wildflower business.
By the time police spotted him dealing in Jesmond - customers flocked to him as soon as he sat down on a bench - he had £4,000 in cash and around £41,000 in cryptocurrency. Newcastle Crown Court heard he had been buying in bulk on the dark web to maximise profits.
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It was in the early evening of January 26 this year that police officers in an unmarked car were on Coniston Avenue, in Jesmond and they saw Phoenix sit on a bench on St George's Terrace. Joe Culley, prosecuting, said: "Almost immediately, people began approaching him and there was an exchange of items on a number of occasions."
Phoenix was approached by police and admitted being in possession of various drugs and he also had £663 in a bag. When his home was searched, bulk quantities of drugs were found, along with £3,838 cash and an estimate £41,000 was found in cryptocurrency in an online wallet on his phone.
The drugs, which included cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, MDMA, LSD, magic mushrooms and prescription drugs, were worth a total of up to £16,000, the court heart. Officers also found an advert he had posted on Snapchat showing prices.
Phoenix made full admissions to police, saying he bought the drugs off the dark web using cryptocurrency and said he was working alone. He told officers most of his customers were university students and said he was raising money to pay his student debts, for medical fees and because he wanted to start a wildflower business.
Phoenix, 26, of Portland Road, Shieldfield, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine, MDMA, LSD, magic mushrooms and 2C-B with intent to supply, supplying cocaine, ketamine and cannabis, being concerned in making an offer to supply prescription medication and possessing criminal property - cash.
Recorder Brian Whitehead sentenced him to two years suspended for two years with 250 hours unpaid work and told him: "You realise you have been a foolish man. I hope you realise today you have been a very fortunate man and I hope you don't let me down."
Jamie Adams, defending, said: "It must have been the easiest investigation the police have had to do. So often, people say nothing to the police. It's indicative of the fact he has operated completely alone.
"He can see the wrongfulness of what he has done but was blinded to that by his own difficulties. His approach was dealing to students as they only use it as a social thing and usually only at weekends.
"He had a junkie state of mind and became completely isolated."
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