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Steven Campbell: Cocaine addict became courier
A cocaine addict from Halton who turned courier to pay off debts to his dealer was caught by police with £88,000 of drugs and £20,000 cash.
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Police suspected Steven Campbell, 28, had been using drugs after stopping him as he drove a Vauxhall Astra van on Crossgates Lane, Leeds Crown Court heard.
Officers searched the van and found bags containing blocks of cocaine weighing a total of 2.2 kilos along with 20,000. The court heard there was no evidence to suggest Campbell, of Temple Avenue, Halton, Leeds, was acting as anything other than a courier.
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Judge Ian Dobkin jailed father-of-two Campbell, of Temple Avenue, Halton, Leeds, for 18 months. Campbell was working as a bill poster before his arrest on August 20.
The court heard he had initially been a social cocaine user but had been addicted for two years and owed his dealer 2,000.
Richard Reed, for Campbell said: "Pressure was put on him. He was left with little alternative but to agree to undertake the delivery of a vehicle for the dealer. He did that with a view to clearing the drug debt.
"He has never been in trouble before. He is really quite frightened by the position he finds himself in, particularly as there has been a loss to the dealer of a van, drugs and cash. He fears for his safety and his family's safety."
Campbell had admitted possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply and possessing criminal property, the 20,000.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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