Dangerous driver tracked down and forced to deal drugs on release from prison

Joshua Richard Steele tried to flee when police arrived to arrest him at his family home in Pinehurst, and Class A drugs and scales were also found at his parents’ house.

In all, between £5,500 and £6,500 of Class A drugs were recovered, as well as a Juke motorcycle that had been stolen.

It was heard he was forced to deal drugs after being tracked down on his release from prison having had a £1,000 debt outstanding.

Recorder David Chidgey decided he had played a “significant” role in the county lines network and jailed him for 21 months.

Joshua Steele.

Swindon Crown Court heard on Thursday (February 3) that Steele, who appeared via video link from HMP Bullingdon, was caught on CCTV topping up a mobile phone in September last year that was used to advertise drugs for the Carlos line.

Two weeks later, his address, where he lived with his children and partner, on Doris Archer Court was searched.

“He tried to leave the property when police arrived,” prosecutor Chloe Griggs told the court. “The police seized a rucksack containing £740 in cash, £3,000 in cash from the bedroom draw, and Class A drugs.”

Several phones, including the drugs line, were seized, and “an EE SIM card was recovered from a toybox in the front room”.

“His parents’ address was also searched and Class A drugs and scales were also recovered,” Ms Griggs added, concluding the total value was between £5,500 and £6,500.

File photo (Image: PA)

Meanwhile, the stolen motorcycle valued at £2,500, which went missing on September 20, was found in his garden, and the 26-year-old said in a police interview that he had bought it from a friend.

“Initially Mr Steele provided a no comment interview and then asked to be re-interviewed and said he was forced to hold drugs for a third party.”

Mitigating, Emma Handslip said that her client admitted he was in a “trusted position”, but said he was “sucked in”.

Speaking of his debts, she said: “Regrettably they don’t go away, he was located and told this is what you need to do.

“He is quite heartfelt and emotional for this, he knows he has got to be punished and there will be consequences.

“He has been sucked into a situation and didn’t make the best choices, but he’s not somebody who wants the court to think he started a drug line and was profiting from it.”

The court was also told how Steele was on licence having recently been released for dangerous driving.

He hit 120 miles per hour attempting to get away from police, including through red lights, on the pavement and on grassy and pedestrianised areas.

Recorder Chidgey said that the fact the offences were committed on licence aggravated the offending, but reduced the sentence due to his “relative youth and lack of convictions”.

Steele, of Pinehurst Road, was given 21 months for being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, to be served concurrently.

He was also given six-month sentences for possessing criminal property and handling stolen goods, both to be served concurrently.

The £3,745 in cash seized was forfeited and will go to Swindon Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service.

Reacting to the sentence, PC Alistair Jarvis, from Wiltshire Police’s Operation Fortitude, said: “We know that the supply of Class A drugs is a huge concern for our communities in Swindon and we are working hard to pursue offenders and put them before the courts.

“Our work relies on information from the public, and I hope this case proves that we do act on intelligence and do everything we can to ensure drug dealers face justice.

“If you witness suspicious activity in your neighbourhood please report it to us via 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”