A Tingley man who was caught drug dealing by police has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.
Stephen Hawkins, 29, was arrested in January 2021 after the Mercedes he was in was stopped by police. Officers found £500 worth of cocaine among other drugs in the car and Hawkins, of Old Hall Road in Tingley, was found to be in possession of cannabis, MDMA and more cocaine.
His Honour Judge Clark told Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday more drugs and cash were found at his home and the drugs amounted to an estimated street value of £3,700. It was said an examination of a mobile phone showed Hawkins' involvement with dealing class A drugs and was "offering to supply class A drugs."
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The judge questioned why the case had taken so long to get to sentence when Hawkins had previously admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession with intent to supply MDMA, possession with intent to supply cannabis and offering to supply cocaine.
Neither of the barristers in the case were able to answer and the court moved on to hearing from a probation officer who said Hawkins - the sole carer of his two young children - had got himself into debt after misusing drugs. It was said character references from his brother, mother and sister-in-law had been given to the court and that Hawkins had no relevant previous convictions.
His barrister said: "These are ancient offences but that has really allowed him to turn his life around. I'm told his involvement was caused by his own habits and that spiraled into significant debts. He was addicted to cocaine and he has now worked to rid his life of that."
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The court heard that Hawkins was a good worker and had even volunteered to help deliver food parcels to those who were vulnerable during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Judge Clark told Hawkins: "You have a good work history - it has not always been possible for you to work as you are the sole carer for your two children but you have got qualifications recently to get into a position to get the kind of work that will allow you to support your children. I'm told you are no longer misusing drugs and have stayed out of trouble."
The judge made him the subject of a two-year sentence suspended for two years and said he must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and ten rehabilitation activity requirement days. The judge added: "If you don't turn up, or mess about or are rude to the people running it you will be brought back before the court and will go to prison."
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