Jail term on the cards for Speen man after 'deal' bags discovered

Police searched the Penn Road home of 23-year-old Jamie Smith and found drugs worth hundreds of pounds, carefully weighed and sorted into ‘deal’ bags, the court heard on Thursday, March 13.
Claire French, prosecuting, said: “On his phone were 707 pages of texts, half of them concerning drug deals. He played a significant role in street dealing and his motivation was financial.”
The white powder was tested and found to be the Class B drug mephedrone, colloquially known as MCat, magistrates were told.
Days earlier, the court heard, police had stopped Mr Smith and found him to be driving under the influence of drugs.
His home was searched at a later date and Ms French said: “There were 26 deal bags containing drugs worth a total of £370.
“He would not tell officers from whom he got the drugs but said he would receive a phone call and go to a pre-arranged drop-off point. He would buy in bulk then weigh the drugs and put them into deal bags before selling them to make money.”
Mr Smith admitted possessing a controlled drug with intent to supply on December 19 last year.
He also admitted possessing mephedrone, possessing a lock knife and driving while unfit through drugs, all at Speen on December 16 last year.
Jennifer Riddell, defending, said: “It is street dealing but it’s a low quantity - only 17 grams. And although there was financial motivation, it’s not a great deal of money as these things go.
“He is subject to a suspended sentence order but these offences pre-date that order.”
She said her client had been co-operating with the probation services, who said he was suitable for an unpaid work requirement.
Ms Riddell added: “Mr Smith is now working full time” and suggested that the case was suitable for sentencing at the magistrates’ court level.
However the court declined further jurisdiction and presiding magistrate Brenda Harding told Mr Smith: “These offences are so serious that you need greater punishment than we can give you.”
Mr Smith was bailed until April 11, when he will be sentenced by a judge sitting at Reading Crown Court.
Meanwhile he was made subject to an interim driving ban for the offence of driving while unfit through drugs.