A dad resorted to drug dealing after he lost his job and fell into financial difficulties, a court heard. Jovan Mullins returned to dealing as a "last resort", explained his solicitor-advocate, Shannon English, at Nottingham Crown Court.
Mullins was caught with 300 wraps of cocaine when police noticed his car insurance had expired by two weeks on September 9 last year. Mullins was in Talbot Street, Nottingham, when he was stopped and searched, leading to the discovery of bundles of cocaine wraps and cash bundles under his passenger seat.
One bundle of drugs was in his pants, the court was told on Monday (February 6). A search of Mullins's home turned up a quantity of heroin, valued between £130-£350, a quantity of cocaine with an 82 percent purity, which prosecutor David Eager told the court was "a significant fact in the case, as it was not prepared for sale at street level and was far too pure".
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Cocaine valued at £3,000 - if sold on the streets - was recovered during the investigation which led to Mullins going to prison for five years and seven months. He pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply.
He already has convictions for the sale of Class A drugs - one from June 22, 2011, when he was chased to an address after he walked away from a drug deal. He threw drug wraps out of a toilet window in St Ann's.
In December 2013 he was chased and dumped bundles of wraps of crack cocaine and heroin, the court was told. In his pre-sentence report for the offences he was jailed over, he said he took up drug dealing again because he lost his job and was in financial difficulties
"It seemed to be a deliberate and measured decision to become a drug dealer for a living," said Mr Eager. Miss English said 28-year-old Mullins, of Durnford Street, Basford, was still a young man, and a dad to a young son.
Mullins's mental health has been in decline following bereavements and there has been a "significant gap" in his offending. "This was a last resort," added Miss English. "A last resort he will have to pay for dearly with his liberty".
Judge Steven Coupland said Mullins's record was unenviable - for robbery, assault, possessing weapons, and this was the third time he has been found street dealing Class A drugs. "In September last year, you were operating in that trade at a significant level, trusted with more than 300 wraps of cocaine, and more cocaine at your address, with bulking agent and heroin," he said.
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