Leeds dealers cut heroin with deadly synthetic drug making it 'hundreds of times more potent'
Dealers who were found to have used highly-dangerous substances to bulk out heroin and maximise profits have been jailed.
Anthony Staten and Natasha Lewis were caught with drugs that contained traces of nitazenes - a synthetic opioid that can be hundreds of times more potent that heroin and can be fatal even in tiny doses.
A third defendant, Zac Fraser, was also jailed after he led police on a chase with drug-dealing Staten riding as his passenger.
Leeds Crown Court was told that Lewis worked for Staten, who was a major player who negotiated the purchase of wholesale drugs running into tens of thousands of pounds.
Prosecuting the case, John Hobley said patrolling police first spotted a VW Golf speeding in Beeston on May 3 last year so attempted to pull it over.
It took off at speed, reaching 80mph in 40mph zones. A bag was also thrown from the window during the pursuit.
Two occupants, Staten and driver Fraser, eventually got out and ran but were quickly detained.
The drugs found, including in the discarded bag, amounting to 14 grammes of heroin and 38 grammes of crack cocaine.
Fraser’s mobile phone was also seized and showed evidence of dealing.
Fraser denied driving and being involved with drugs, while Staten refused to answer questions during his interview with police. They were then bailed.
However, officers later traced a significant drugs phone line to Staten, and so raided his home in Beeston on July 30 this year.
During the bust, a bag of drugs was hurled from a first-floor window, while mobile phones recovered were found to contain drug-dealing messages.
They also found designer clothing and a Rolex watch.
They also raided a property in Waverley Garth and found 38-year-old Lewis, who tried to run as they arrived. They found a machete and a ledger listing drug sales.
The drugs thrown from Staten’s home contained heroin that had traces of nitazenes.
The court heard that 33-year-old Staten controlled the drugs line and that Lewis took orders from him about when to send out bulk messages to users.
Thousands of messages were sent out advertising “light and dark”, taken to mean crack and heroin.
There was also evidence of “runners” delivering drugs on behalf of Staten, while messages suggested he was negotiating to buy large quantities of drugs in bulk.
Staten, of Malvern Road, Leeds, admitted four counts of dealing in Class A drugs. He has three previous convictions, but none for drugs.
Lewis, also of Malvern Road, admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
Lewis has 21 previous convictions, including drug dealing.
Fraser, of Fourth Avenue, Rothwell, admitted two counts of dealing in Class A drugs, dangerous driving, driving without a licence and having no insurance.
The 23-year-old has 11 previous convictions, including for drugs and driving offences.
Mitigating for Staten Michael Walsh said he “knew he will be in custody for some time” and added: “He knows there’s no excuse for the criminality he is involved in.
“He was a drug user and then pressure was applied to him.”
Representing Lewis also, Mr Walsh said her position was “wholly different”.
He said she had no influence over people in the chain.
For Fraser, Jeremy Barton said he “regretted” his involvement. He said Fraser had tried to get away from drug influences by enrolling on a plumber and bricklaying course, but fell back in with a bad crowd.
He said that the father-of-two “self remanded” by offering to be held in prison before his sentencing, so it would count towards his sentence and be released earlier.
Mr Barton said: “He says he really has learned his lesson this time.”
Judge Penelope Belcher jailed Staten for eight years and eight months, saying he ran a “busy drugs line”.
Lewis was jailed for four years with Fraser receiving a five-year sentence.