DRUG dealers sold crack cocaine and heroin from a Worcester Travelodge, using the hotel as a base for their ‘pernicious’ trade. Iraqli Balatayev, now an adult, was just 15 when he started peddling class A drugs in the city while his co-defendant Jaskaiun Kharaud was also involved in County Lines dealing.

Balateyev, 18, of The Moorfield, Coventry and Kharaud, 21, of Dorchester Way, Coventry had both admitted conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin in Worcester between July 12 and July 24, 2018. Both men admitted the offences on the second day of their trial.

Judge James Burbidge QC said that drugs ‘destroyed the lives of many’ and told both men: “You didn’t care about the human cost of lives being adversely affected. That is a worrying trait in your character.”

Matthew Brook, prosecuting, said neither of the defendants was ‘the organiser’ but both travelled to Worcester to supply the drugs. Kharaud, described by the judge as the organiser’s ‘right hand man’, was first spotted in the city on June 28, 2018. Trips were made to Worcester on June 29 and July 3, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 21 of that year.

The dealing involved the organiser booking a room at the Travelodge near Worcester Cathedral with a judge counting 13 occasions when Kharaud had travelled to the city from Coventry to deal drugs.

Messages were sent to 28 customers via texts. Mr Brook said: “The Crown say they are advertising texts making customers aware the line is active.”

CCTV showed Balateyev ‘coming in and out of the hotel room with drugs on 10 occasions’. On one occasion on July 23 the drugs phone sent out advertising messages to 37 customers while Balateyev was seen in the area supplying drugs in the city centre. Kharaud was arrested that day when police seized 99 wraps of crack cocaine and 47 of heroin divided into £10 deals. He also had cannabis in his possession.

His co-defendant was in a car when he was stopped, police finding £50 in his sock and £660 in cash in the car.

Balateyev issued a prepared statement, ‘vehemently denying his guilt’. Both defendants were of good character at the time of the offences.

Michael Anning, for Kharaud, said his client was only 18 at the time and was ‘one of the pairs of hands involved’ in the dealing. “He was not a recruiter of others to the enterprise but rather was recruited himself” said Mr Anning.

He said the defendant retained a close relationship with his mother and sister. “He was naive, he was an 18-year-old man of good character” said the barrister.

Kharaud had also spent three weeks in custody on remand and had been on an electronically monitored curfew since August, 2018 (two years and 10 months). Mr Anning asked the judge to bear this in mind when sentencing him. “I do submit that your Honour can pass a sentence that does not automatically and immediately deprive him of his liberty” said Mr Anning.

Kiran Gohal, for Balateyev, said: “He has now experienced custody and no longer wishes to go back to custody.”

Miss Gohal added: “It’s three years since the offences. He’s accepted them and he’s very remorseful.”

Judge James Burbidge QC said the delay in the defendants accepting what they had done was one of the reasons that this case has taken so long to get to court. “You continued to lie about your involvement” said the judge.

Judge Burbidge spoke of ‘the pernicious effect of drugs, particularly class A drugs.

He said although he could send Kharaud back to prison ‘that seems to me not a constructive use of the court’s powers and the public purse or indeed the ability to ensure that you engage in the future without offending’. In the unusual circumstances of this case I’m going to take a perhaps unusual course” he said.

Kharaud was jailed for one year and six months but will serve no time in custody because of time spent on remand and curfew. Balateyev was given nine months detention suspended for 12 months. He must complete 100 hours of unpaid work.