A former international athlete 'went off the rails' and became an unsuccessful cocaine dealer.
Jacob Maxted, 26, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday (May 9). A Great Britain handball player, Maxted was arrested as he tried to sell cocaine but was caught on CCTV.
He was in Warrington town centre at around 3.20am on December 15, 2021 when he was caught on CCTV offering cocaine to another man. Prosecuting, Iain Criddle told the court that Maxted made an "unsophisticated attempt" to deal cocaine, one bag of which was in the palm of his hand as he tried to make a sale.
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A CCTV camera was directly above Maxted as he attempted to make a deal. The person operating the camera contacted the police, who arrived and found Maxted with one bag of cocaine in his hand and 12 in his pocket, which he intended to "undersell" for £20 each.
In total, he had 1.87g of the drug in his possession, as well as £48.06 in cash.
He initially said that half of the cocaine was for sale and the other half was for personal use. He admitted the offence in a police interview and pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply at the first opportunity.
In mitigation, Andrew Jebb pointed to his client's lack of criminal history or prowess. Mr Jebb said his client operated in the "most inept way", which resulted in the "maximum risk of discovery for minimum reward".
Additionally, Mr Jebb told the court that Maxted had played handball for Great Britain and had completed accountancy qualifications.
Maxted, of Nelson Road, Birchwood, played handball for Warrington Wolves, top scoring for the club in their successful 2017 British Championship Test Event campaign. His performances for the Cheshire side resulted in a number of international call-ups for Great Britain, who he represented in competitions abroad.
He then went on to work to qualify as an accountant. Mr Jebb described his client as a "young man with considerable promise", saying he has returned to play rugby, has been in a 14-month relationship and was holding down a job, which earned him a salary and commission, since his arrest.
Maxted's cocaine use had become a "problem" at the time of the offence, Mr Jebb said. However, he told the court that Maxted was no longer taking drugs.
Mr Jebb said Maxted's behaviour since his arrest showed he was "capable of leading a law-abiding and productive lifestyle". He said that his client, who has no previous convictions, poses no danger or risk to the public.
Sentencing, Mr Recorder J Close told Maxted that his offence was "extraordinarily serious". He said drug dealing was to "traffic in misery", which "spreads nothing but death and destruction".
However, he told the dealer that his attempts to deal were "breathtakingly inept, which speaks to your level of sophistication". The judge pointed out that Maxted attempted to deal a Class A drug directly beneath a CCTV camera, adding that a drug deal "with a greater risk of discovery it is hard to imagine".
He said to Maxted: "You present as a criminally naïve young man". The judge said that the 26-year-old "went off the rails for six months" and that his criminal activity was limited to street dealing, with a lack of a network behind it.
Though dealing a Class A drug would usually result in immediate custody, Recorder Close said the "weight of other factors" allowed him to suspend the sentence. The judge pointed to Maxted's otherwise good character, remorse, his employment and the lack of risk of reoffending as he passed sentence.
Maxted walked free from court, having been sentenced to 20 months, suspended for 18 months. He must also complete 250 hours of unpaid work, which he must complete outside of work hours.
Recorder Close said: "You don't get free time. That's what you've brought upon yourself".
He added: "You do that work or you go to prison"
Before Maxted left court, the judge said: "You have been given a chance today. There will not be a second one".
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