Leeds drug dealer '˜played dead' to hide £100,000 cocaine stash

Stephen Lock’s charade backfired when officers called for an ambulance after finding him seemingly unconscious in bed.

Lock’s ruse was uncovered when he ‘awoke’ as paramedics tried to place a tube in his mouth.

Leeds Crown Court heard paramedics formed the view that Lock was “faking it”.

The police officers had initially been called out to a domestic incident at the home Lock shared with his girlfriend at Amberton Mount, Gipton, Leeds, on November 8 last year.

But the 27-year-old ended up being arrested on a drugs charge after police became suspicious at Lock’s antics and discovered 14 packages of cocaine in the property.

Carmel Pearson, prosecuting, said the total value of the class A drug was estimated to be worth £40,000.

They also found around 1.5kg of benzocaine, a substance commonly used as a bulking agent for the class A drug.

Police estimated it could produce cocaine deals with a street value of £100,000.

Officers also seized £3,000 in cash. Some of the notes were counterfeit.

Lock pleaded guilty to possession of a class A drug with intent to supply. He was jailed for four years.

Ian Cook, mitigating, said Lock had been a regular user of cocaine and became involved in the offending to pay off a debt he had built up with dealers.

He said Lock had come to court prepared for a lengthy prison sentence and wanted to gain qualifications as a personal trainer while in custody.

Mr Cook said: “This defendant is quite high profile within his community and local gym where he trains a lot and helps out a lot.

“In the past he has organised events in his local community for charity.”

Jailing Lock, judge Peter Benson said: “Police were called to your house on an unrelated matter. To cover up the existence of this drug you feigned death.”

After the case, Det Insp Phil Jackson, of Leeds District CID, said: “Lock’s bizarre attempt to avoid the attention of the officers who had been called to a domestic incident at the address only served to make them more suspicious. It was as a direct result of this that the officers delved deeper and found this large amount of drugs, cutting agent and cash.

“While his actions may seem laughable, the serious side of this is the damage that Class A drugs do in our communities.

“Those, like Lock, who are prepared to supply drugs that fuel crime and anti-social behaviour should always expect to receive a significant prison sentence and we hope it will provide a stark reminder to others.”