Wiltshire man who let cocaine 'rule his life' jailed (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Police smelled cannabis after stopping speeding driver near Marlborough and found cocaine

9:39am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News

A MAN who allowed cocaine to 'rule his life' has been jailed for two years and three months after he was found to be dealing in the drug.

Marc Sanchez, 23, of Wexcombe, near Burbage, who was caught after he was stopped for speeding, had lost his relationship, friends, family and job as a result of his addiction to the class-A drug.

And, as he struggled to seek out his next fix, Sanchez started selling cocaine to other users to subsidise his own habit.

But, after he was pulled over for his driving, police found a stash of the drug in the car door pocket and uncovered his illicit trade.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that officers stopped his car on Marlborough Road on Monday, June 11, last year.

When they spoke to him they could smell cannabis so searched the vehicle and found a bag containing loose cocaine.

Sanchez told them: "It's just a bit of coke and K, just for my own use," but they found more of the drug and £211.50 in cash on him when he was searched.

At his home they found electronic scales and tablets and his mobile phone was also analysed.

On the device they found a series of text messages from five people all referring to the trade in drugs.

Miss Hingston said in total police found about ten grams of cocaine with a purity of 88 per cent, which is high, and was worth about £800.

Sanchez pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply and simple possession of cannabis and diazepam.

Alex Daymond, defending, said Sanchez admitted the cocaine offence on the basis that it was partly for his own use and partly to sell to some of his friends.

"He had a cocaine addiction for a number of years and it ruled his life for a long while. He couldn't fund the habit without selling to friends," said Mr Daymond.

"Mr Sanchez was a long-term drug user. His previous convictions clearly reflect that fact.

"He has said that his addiction for a long time clearly took over his life. It destroyed his relationships with friends, with family and his employers.

"All he was concerned with for a number of years is where is his next fix of drugs coming from.

"As is so often the case he slipped into selling drugs to those he already knew were users. As a user with an addiction himself he is easy prey to those higher up the supply chain."

He said Sanchez is reconciled with his family, off drugs, and has found work with employers who know about the case and will keep the job open for him.

Jailing him, Judge Douglas Field said: "By far the most serious offence is possession of cocaine with intent to supply. A class-A drug. That is very serious."