A ‘runner’ for a county line gang in Bedford today/Weds thanked a judge for giving him a chance to stay off drugs.
Jason Soares, 33, was caught in an undercover police operation in the town in 2019.
Two officers – named Mel and Alice – were directed to Soares’ address in Alexandra Road, Bedford by a drug user.
Soares was recorded on a secret camera supplying them with three wraps of crack and two of heroin for £25, Luton crown court heard.
Prosecutor Alexander Wright said that eight days later, on June 14th 2019, ‘Alice’ received a text message about “banging deals.” The officers went to an alleyway near Alexandra Road where Soares handed over two wraps of heroin and one of crack for £20.
The officers later received a call from the man running the ‘Sunny’ drug line to check if they had received the drugs.
Mr Wright said the man who ran the Sunny line was Shiv Nahar, now 26, was earlier jailed for 40 months having pleaded guilty to being involved in drug supply.
Soares, now of De Parys Avenue, Bedford appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to four charges of supplying class A drugs. He had 24 convictions for 33 offences. None were for drug dealing, but some were for possession of drugs.
Defending, Mark Nicholls said Soares had ‘hung around’ with the wrong company. He had delivered the drugs and was receiving cocaine as payment.
Mr Nicholls said he was now motivated to get off drugs. “He is not the same person he was two years ago,” he said.
Judge Karen Walden-Smith told him: “You were acting as a runner. Such offences normally involve immediate custody.”
But she said she would take into account the fact the offences were a long time ago and Soares’ efforts to stay off drugs.
She passed a 24-month jail sentence suspended for 24 months with a condition that he attends 30 rehabilitation days.
The judge warned him: “You need to concentrate on staying off drugs. You are 33 this is your last opportunity.”
Soares said: “Thank you” as he left the court.
