Laughing gas Leeds dealer avoids custody after saying 'I'm glad I was caught'
He was also involved in dropping off cocaine and other drugs
A driver caught with dozens of nitrous oxide canisters in his car during a stop and search has been spared immediate custody.
Andrew Borthwick later said he was “glad he was caught” after evidence was found that he was involved in delivering orders of cocaine, ketamine and cannabis.
Leeds Crown Court heard that the 40-year-old was pulled over on Cherry Court in Burmantofts on November 4, 2023.
They found the canisters, known as laughing gas which was made illegal to possess in 2023, along with various nozzles.
The drugs were worth £850, prosecutor Victoria Ball said.
Having been arrested, his phone was seized and analysed. It showed clear messages related to dealing in not only nitrous oxide, but the three other drugs.
Borthwick, of Langley Road, Bramley, was interviewed twice - in November 2023 and in May last year - and refused to answer questions during both.
He has no previous convictions. He admitted three counts of being concerned in Class A and B drugs, and dealing in a Class C drug.
A probation report found that Borthwick had lost his job and found himself in a desperate financial situation with a need to support his family.
It was noted that he was happy to have been caught before he got involved further and admitted it was the “biggest mistake of his life”.
Mitigating, Kara Frith said it happened almost three years ago and it was “very much out of character”, that he had worked legally most of his adult life.
She said he cares for his partner who has health issues and his involvement in the drugs is “something he deeply regrets”.
The judge, Recorder Simon Kealey KC gave him a 30-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 180 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation days to complete.