Mental health support worker jailed for selling heroin and crack cocaine on Leeds streets during lockdown

Kyle Shackleton was jailed up for four years after a judge heard how he continued to offend while on bail after being arrested in a separate drugs bust at a house in the city.

Leeds Crown Court heard police officers went to Haslewood Drive, Burmantofts, on September 16 last year after receiving reports that youths were outside the property waiting for a drug dealer.

The youths had gone by the time officers arrived but the door to the house was open.

They went inside and saw Shackleton coming out of the living room.

He said he did not live at the property but could not provide an explanation for being there.

The officers noticed items in the property that were associated with drug dealing, including digital scales and bun cases to package drugs.

Shackleton, 31, was asked if he had anything illegal in his possession and he produced a self-seal bag containing 20 wraps of crack cocaine and 40 wraps of heroin.

The father-of-three was arrested but refused to comment during interview and was given bail.

Police officers spotted Shackleton acting suspiciously in the Burmantofts area on April 20 this year.

Paul Nicholson, prosecuting, said the defendant walked from shops on Lincoln Green Road to Naseby Gardens where he was approached by people who appeared to be drug users.

Officers stopped Shackleton near to Cromwell Heights and he ran off.

He was caught after a short chase and struggled with officers as he tried to put his hands in his pockets.

Shackleton was searched and found in possession of over 150 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine which had a street value of £1,785

He was also in possession of £700 in cash.

Shackleton, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to four offences of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply.

He has no previous convictions.

Richard Reed, mitigating, said Shackleton was a trained mental health support worker and did not use illegal drugs.

Mr Reed said Shackleton became involved in drugs following an incident in July last year.

He had been travelling in a car with a group of other men when the vehicle was stopped and searched by police and drugs were seized.

Mr Reed said the people in the car blamed Shackleton for the incident and he was told he had to become a drug dealer to clear the debt.

The lawyer said Shackleton was stabbed in the buttock as part of a campaign of intimidation against him.