'Foolish' Leeds drug dealer caught with working Smith & Wesson revolver pistol
A drug dealer caught with thousands of pounds worth of crack cocaine and a loaded pistol confessed he had made “foolish decisions” in his life.
Joseph Taylor was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week, along with his friend Noah Thompson.
The court heard that Taylor was on bail for dealing when he was caught again, with police then finding the converted Smith & Wesson revolver at his home in Swarcliffe.
Taylor was initially arrested on the morning of January 23, 2023, when police went to his address on an unrelated matter.
But the officers then noticed bags of white powder and weighing scales, so carried out a search.
Found around the house were bags of cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis worth a total of £3,200.
They also found several mobile phones, one of which contained clear messages related to drug dealing.
In one message, sent to 40 contacts, he offered “flake” for sale - a slang term for cocaine.
During his police interview, Taylor denied he was a dealer, that the drugs were for personal use, and the phone was not his.
Having been bailed and a delay in forthcoming charges, he was stopped in an Audi A3 on Domestic Street, Holbeck, in the early hours of April 2 this year.
He was the passenger while pal Noah Thompson was behind the wheel.
With a strong smell of cannabis coming from the car, the officers carried out a search. They found bags of drugs and several phones.
Having both been arrested, more drugs were found in the underwear of both during a strip search at the police station. Hundreds of pounds of cash were also confiscated from the pair.
Both of their homes were searched, with cannabis found at Thompson’s house, while a huge quantity of crack cocaine was found at Taylor’s. The total value of the drugs seized came to more than £14,000.
The pistol was found in a pantry and had viable ammunition loaded into the chamber. A sock containing five cartridges were also located.
A firearms expert found the gun to be a replica that had been converted to fire live rounds.
Taylor, of Brayton Approach, Swarcliffe, admitted two counts of dealing in crack cocaine, two of dealing in cannabis and one of dealing in heroin and one for dealing in cocaine. He also admitted possessing a prohibited weapon and having ammunition without a certificate.
The 22-year-old has previous convictions but for unrelated matters.
Mitigating, Marte Alnaes said that Taylor was “expecting a very lengthy custodial sentence”.
She added: “He realises he took a very wrong turn in life and made some very foolish decisions over a prolonged period of time. They are actions that can’t be excused or trivialised in any way.
“He thought he was clever and smart and had financial motives.”
She said he was lightly convicted and was tasting his first experience of custody having been held on remand at HMP Leeds.
Thompson, of The Drive, Crossgates, admitted dealing in heroin and crack cocaine. The 21-year-old has a previous conviction for possession of cannabis from 2022.
Mitigating, Michael Walsh said Thompson accepted that he and Taylor were “in it together”, but said there were “hints of lesser culpability” than Taylor.
He said that having also been held on remand since his arrest, he could be given a sentence that could see him freed immediately or in the near future.
But Judge Kate Rayfield handed him a three-year sentence, and gave Taylor a 10-year sentence.