A DEALER found with a large haul of drugs with a street value of over £30,000 will now spend a lengthy period behind bars.

Joshua Jones was caught by police after attempting to flee, with a "substantial" quantity of drugs found in two cars and his home.

David Jackson, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court that police officers' attention was drawn to an Audi A5 at around 5.30pm on April 10, 2021. 

The prosecutor said the driver of the vehicle drove off at speed on the wrong side of the road in Elgar Avenue, Malvern. 

Worcester News: JAILED: Joshua JonesJAILED: Joshua Jones (Image: West Mercia Police)

Officers decided it was too dangerous to chase but later found the vehicle abandoned, with Jones registered as the owner.

After trying to run away, he was chased and restrained after a short struggle. 

Mr Jackson said police found the 23-year-old had £1,695 in cash on him. 

Police searched the Audi, his room at his home in Ramsdale Close, Malvern, and a BMW on the driveway and the drugs were hidden away in bags and containers. 

Discovered in total, and their minimum street values, were:

 

  • 322 ecstasy tablets worth £1,610
  • 63 grams of cocaine worth £2,500
  • A kilogram of cannabis worth over £30,000

 

And in total £23,775 cash from the sale of drugs was found.  

Mr Jackson said it was clear Jones had a "leading role" as a street dealer - proved with messages on phones that included 'want an ounce if possible' and other requests for drugs. 

Mr Jackson added the offence was further aggravated by Jones' previous conviction being given a suspended jail sentence in 2018 for possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

Caroline Harris, defending, said Jones had fallen into becoming a drug dealer after trying to clear family drug debts. 

Worcester News: SENTENCED: Joshua Jones was jailed at Worcester Crown CourtSENTENCED: Joshua Jones was jailed at Worcester Crown Court

Miss Harris said: "By his own admission it was spiralling out of control. 

"It needed the intervention of the authorities."

She added Jones knew custody was "inevitable" and wanted to ensure on release he would have a positive impact on society. 

Sentencing him on Thursday, (November 17), Judge Jackson said Jones had entered into drug dealing knowing it was illegal, and the consequences if he was caught. 

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The judge said the aggravating factors were there had been months of dealing - the offences taking place between July 10, 2020 and April 10, 2021 - there were a "substantial" quantity of drugs found by police, and Jones' previous conviction.

He jailed Jones for 44 months. 

 

  • We reported in July that Jones' co-accused David De Bishopp had narrowly avoided being sent to prison. 

Magistrates heard the 25-year-old had faced 'peer pressure' to deal cannabis in Malvern between July 7, 2020, and April 10, 2021. 

Worcester News: COURT: David De Bishoppe outside Worcester Magistrates CourtCOURT: David De Bishoppe outside Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

Cannabis, valued at around £360, had been found at a Malvern property De Bishoppe was living at following a police search there on April 10 last year. 

De Bishoppe, of Victoria Road, Malvern, was given a 26-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.