A JUDGE told a crack cocaine dealer only immediate custody was the suitable sentence in his case when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court.
We reported earlier this year Jonathan Rippard was convicted by a jury of possession of crack cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply after a Worcester Crown Court trial.
The 47-year-old appeared via videolink to the court for sentencing on Friday, (October 14).
Prosecutor Jason Aris told the court Rippard had played a "significant role" in the dealing of the class A drugs in Worcestershire.
Police stopped a Mercedes in Three Springs Road in Pershore on December 5, 2018 with three men inside, including Rippard.
A search of Rippard's then home in Rail Ground, Pershore, followed two hours later.
At his home police found 10.5g of crack cocaine with an estimated street value of £350 in his living room, a wrap of heroin in a kitchen drawer, skunk cannabis worth £210 in a downstairs toilet, 40g of herbal cannabis worth £80 on top of the fridge, an Aldi bag herbal cannabis (145g) valued at £280 in the main bedroom in, more herbal cannabis (100g) valued at £200 in the loft and a quantity of cannabis leaf.
Mr Aris said text messages on Rippard's phone analysed by police revealed he had been involved in the dealing of drugs.
Mr Aris added Rippard had seven convictions for 18 offences, with 10 of the convictions related to the possession of drugs.
Lee Masters, defending, said despite his criminal record Rippard had never been to custody.
Mr Masters said Rippard, of Gisborne Gardens, Hampton, Evesham, had been grateful of being remanded to custody, as he had been able to get help from prison staff for his mental health issues and drug addiction.
The barrister said Rippard had kept out of trouble for a while.
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He urged Judge Nicholas Cole to either suspend any jail sentence, or keep it to the minimum possible term - highlighting he had not been involved in the wider county lines conspiracy.
Judge Cole, sentencing Rippard, told him: "Those who involve themselves in the supply of drugs do so knowing the illegality and the risk if you are caught."
The judge jailed Rippard for three years and three months.
His co-defendants, Alim Ahmed and Mohammed Hussain, have previously been jailed for their offending.
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