A cocaine dealer was caught with drugs stashed down his trousers on a convenience store car park.
Philip Legge turned to trafficking illicit substances after racking up crippling gambling debts. The dad-of-four cried as he was jailed over his secret activities yesterday, Wednesday.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that police on patrol in the Crosby area in February this year spotted the 45-year-old's BMW 3 Series stop at the Tesco Express store on Coronation Road before a man walked out of a nearby house and entered the passenger seat. They then observed a "short conversation and a hand-to-hand transaction", prosecutor Peter Hussey said.
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The customer got back out of the car, and officers approached. Legge too exited the vehicle and dropped £60 in cash to the floor, while he was also holding wraps of cocaine in his hands.
"Straight away", he admitted that he had "more drugs down the back of his trousers". A search of his home subsequently found one further wrap, while a large amount of cash was discovered stashed in a safe.
Meanwhile, messages on his phone were "indicative of drug trafficking". In total, 23 street deals of cocaine of between 33 and 35 per cent in purity were recovered by Merseyside Police.
Legge, of Dale Acre Drive in Netherton, has three previous convictions for four offences but has not been before the courts for 13 years. Rory McCormack, defending, told the court that his client suffers from a number of health issues.
He added: "Bearing in mind his age and background, it is somewhat sad to see him in this particular position. Until recently, there was nothing to suggest he was anything but a good husband and father to his children.
"The main reason he committed this offence was to deal with gambling debts. He made a full and rank admission that he was dealing on a commercial basis."
Legge admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply and was locked up for two-and-a-half years. He wiped away a tear and leaned over the protective glass screen of the dock in order to kiss his wife in the public gallery before being led away to the cells.
Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver KC said: "I'm going to sentence you on the basis that this was a commercial enterprise. You were prepared to sell to anybody who was willing to buy.
"You have got no relevant previous convictions and letters speak of a better side of your character and community work you have done. I will take all of that into account."
Legge could now be ordered to repay his ill-gotten gains under the Proceeds of Crime Act. He will be brought back before the same court next year.
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