Police stop unlucky drug dealer for a chat

Zac Hazeldine was spotted driving along Bloxwich Road North in Willenhall by the police officer who stopped him for a chat, a judge heard.

It became increasingly obvious that the defendant was edgy and worried about being involved in the conversation, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Finally Hazeldine lost his nerve and bolted out of his car, but the officer managed to grab the 22-year-old’s bag as he fled.

The incident took place around 5pm on Saturday July 21.

The officer searched Hazeldine’s bag after grabbing it and found it held £1,465 cash and 64 street wraps of heroin or cocaine worth a total of £640, explained Mr Tim Harrington, prosecuting.

The defendant was found hiding at a nearby address soon afterwards. He was arrested and charged with possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply.

He had previous convictions for robbery, shoplifting and criminal damage but none for drug offences, the court heard.

Mr David Swinnerton, defending, said father-of-two Hazeldine turned to drugs after the relationship with his partner broke down and his life spiralled out of control when he started using cocaine and mixing with the ‘wrong crowd.’

The lawyer continued: “He found himself being told he was £5,000 in debt for drugs from people who began demanding the money with increasing pressure.

“He was physically assaulted on two occasions.

“He was told that one way to repay the money would be to do their drug dealing for them.

“He felt under pressure and went out on the street to deal with their drugs.

“This will be his first taste of custody but he sees it as a wake up call and an opportunity to break his links with drugs.”

Hazeldine from Hawthorne Road, Short Heath, Willenhall, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply and was jailed for three years.

Judge Abbas Mithani QC said: “Any involvement in the supply of drugs is taken extremely seriously by the courts.”