Drug dealer with baby in his car walks free
A drug dealer has narrowly escaped being sent to prison after he was caught selling cannabis from his car – which had a baby in the back seat.
Wesley Bristow was with his partner Melissa Ball and three others when the vehicle was approached by police in Cecil Street, Stourbridge, on August 9.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard police had first become suspicious when they had seen two men waiting in the street. The hearing was told the vehicle being driven by Bristow had pulled into the street and 'an exchange' had taken place. Police then approached the vehicle.
Miss Alka Brigue, prosecuting, said the baby, which was not the couple's, had been in the back seat of the car.
Officers found £710 cash in the car along with plastic tubs containing dealer bags and nearly 14 grams of cannabis which had a street value of around £145.
Miss Brigue said a search was later carried out at Bristow's address, which he had shared with Ball, where a small amount of cannabis and a white powder, found to be mephedrone substitute M-Cat, had been found.
Bristow, aged 24, of Austin House, Cradley Road, Netherton, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to possessing cannabis with intent to supply and dealing cannabis.
Ball, 18, of School Road, Quarry Bank, pleaded guilty to possession. The couple, who have a two-month-old baby, wept as they waited to hear the court's sentence.
Bristow was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, placed under supervision for 18 months and drug rehabilitation for 12 months. Bell was given a community order for six months.
Judge Nicholas Webb ordered the £710 found in the vehicle go towards court costs.
