A THIRD-strike drug dealer has avoided immediate jail time after arguing exceptional circumstances to the guidelines around minimum sentences.

Andrew Jackson, 46, of Osterley Grove, Ravenscliffe, Bradford, was facing a possible seven-year sentence when he appeared before Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday.

He had pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply – heroin and crack cocaine.

And the Court heard that he had two previous convictions for drug supply, from 2000 and 2007.

But Judge Colin Burn accepted that Jackson, who was said to be in extremely poor health, had relapsed into drug use shortly in 2020 following the tragic death of his 17-year-old son.

He also accepted that Jackson had supplied drugs purely to fund his own habit, having been arrested with around £200-worth of Class A drugs on him.

The prosecutor in the case told that court that Jackson had been spotted dealing from a Vauxhall Astra by two police officers on duty in the Shipley area at around 10pm on July 2, 2020.

When they stopped the vehicle Jackson appeared to hide something in his trousers. After a drugs search back at the station, officers found eight wraps each of heroin and crack cocaine, with a street value of around £200.

They also uncovered a dealer list and messages on Jackson’s mobile phone suggesting his was dealing.

It also became clear that he was using as well as dealing, the court heard.

A total of £231.85 in cash was recovered from Jackson by police.

On Jackson’s behalf, the court was told that he was remorseful for his actions, and had previously been drug free since 2007, but that the death of his son had been a catalyst for relapsing into drug use again.

In addition, the court was told that Jackson had severe health problems himself, including lung condition COPD and sleep apnoea.

Jackson was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. He must complete a drug rehabilitation requirement for nine months, with weekly drug tests, and 15 days of rehabilitation activities include a focus on relapse prevention.

Judge Burn said he was satisfied, on balance, that there were exceptional circumstances for not applying the minimum sentence here.

He added that while Jackson had relapsed into using Class A drugs, any dealing was in order to fund his own habit, which was seen as a lesser role.

He ordered that the cash be forfeited, and the drugs and mobile phone be forfeited and destroyed.

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