Leeds dealer sold drugs to set up cleaning business

Lewis Pearce, 23, was jailed for three years after police found him in possession of cocaine and class B drugs along with a large sum of cash.

Leeds Crown Court heard Pearce was caught when police stopped his vehicle on July 16 last year and could smell cannabis in the vehicle.

They found cannabis in the car along with a business card advertising “Whizz Party Supplies”. Pearce’s phone was seized and found to contain text messages relating to drug dealing.

His home was then searched and officers found cocaine of a high purity.

Crack cocaine along with skunk cannabis and another Class B drug was found.

The estimated street value of the drugs was £5,500. A sum of over £9,000 in cash was also recovered.

Pearce, of Sholebroke Street, Chapeltown, pleaded guilty to possessing class A and B drugs with intent to supply and possession of criminal property. Christopher Moran, mitigating, said Pearce had worked for Sports Direct but hoped to start his own cleaning business.

The barrister said his client accepted that the offending was committed for financial gain but he had pleaded guilty at an early stage and cooperated with police. Mr Moran said: “He had his own legitimate business ambitions to open his own business. That was a quick and easy way to get through to his goal.

Jailing Pearce, judge Tom Bayliss, QC, said: “You are obviously someone who really has the capacity to do well for yourself in life if you can keep away from drugs and crime.

“But I am afraid the inevitable consequence of street dealing, which you were involved in, is a custodial sentence.”