Transit van drug dealer is jailed
A drug user caught dealing drugs out of his transit van has been jailed for two years.
Richard Hawker, aged 27, was seen by police in the car park of Farmer John's Pub in Streetly.
When searched he was found with 17 wraps of cocaine in tissue paper.
Wolverhampton Crown Court was told that Hawker had been seen acting suspiciously by police officers.
Mr Kevin Jone, prosecuting, said: " It was at 7.40pm on April 11 when a transit van came to the attention of officers.
"It is believed they saw an exchange take place between the two vehicles. The defendant was approached by officers and he was described as being nervous."
As a result of drugs being found in his van officers carried out a search of his home.
Once there they discovered a set of scales, a knife with class A dug residue on it and six packets of small bags.
In total he was found with 11.4 grammes of cocaine.
Mr Anthony Potter, defending Hawker, said: "This was very foolish. He is a man in employment and he highly thought by his employers.
"It is right that when he was stopped by police he was nervous, in fact he was shaking, I haven't represented many people who have been so concerned by being confronted by the police.
"I don't think he anticipated the seriousness of these crimes. He dealt drugs to his circle of friends and it was all to fund his own drug use."
Hawker of Aldridge Road, Sutton Coldfield, pleaded guilty to possession of a class A drug with intent to supply.
Judge Robin Onions jailed Hawker for two years.
He was told he would serve half of his sentence before he was released.
