Drug dealer caught red-handed at skatepark

Under cover officers pounce

POLICE caught a drug dealer at Thatcham skatepark, still clutching a roll of bank notes.

Cameron Peter Hannaford, of Quarrington Close, Thatcham, described as a street dealer, was caught red-handed by plain clothes police officers, Newbury magistrates heard last Thursday.

Helen Waite, prosecuting, said the officers watched as a car pulled in to the car park via a rear entrance.

She added: “There were three people inside – two women and this defendant. The officers noticed he looked nervous and on edge.”

When they identified themselves as police officers, the 19-year-old tried to make off.

But, said Ms Waite, he was detained, still clutching more than £200 in banknotes. In his pockets were ‘deal’ bags of cannabis, magistrates were told, and his mobile phone showed evidence of drug transactions.

Ms Waite said: “The evidence clearly shows that there was a commercial element to his supplying.”

Mr Hannaford exercised his right to silence and replied “no comment” to questions put to him in police interview, the court heard.

However, Mr Hannaford admitted possessing the Class B controlled drug with intent to supply it at Harts Hill Road, Thatcham, on July 21. He has no convictions but a prior caution for a previous offence.

Sotiris Yiakoumi, defending, urged magistrates to retain jurisdiction rather than send his client to the Crown court for sentencing by a judge with greater powers.

He said that, despite the prosecution’s description of Mr Hannaford as a street dealer, his was really a “social dealing” operation, in that he was supplying to friends. Mr Yiakoumi also said the amount of cannabis found – 9.32g – was not vast.

After conferring with colleagues, presiding magistrate Brenda Harding said the court was declining further jurisdiction.

Mr Hannaford will now be sentenced by a judge at Reading Crown Court.He was meanwhile released on unconditional bail until the hearing, scheduled for December 15.