Leeds dealer caught with 'low-quality' cocaine worth £1.7k after nervy behaviour alerts police
The drugs were 56% below the standard purity
A Leeds dealer was caught with ‘low-quality’ drugs worth £1,770 in his car after his “nervous” behaviour alerted police.
Rytis Valickas was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court this week after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
The court was told how the 33-year-old was pulled over on Dewsbury Road, Beeston, and police carried out a search of the vehicle after growing suspicious of his “nervous” behaviour.
Prosecutor Sam Roxborough detailed how during the search officers discovered a black bag containing 59 separate grip sealed bags of a white powder.
This was later discovered to be low-quality cocaine, some 56% below the standard purity, the court heard.
Mr Roxborough said that at standard purity the drugs had a street value of £1,770 and it was the Crown’s case that the drugs were being sold as if they were of standard quality.
Valickas, of Conference Road, Armley, has five convictions from nine previous offences, including possession of cannabis and cocaine, possession with intent to supply class B drugs.
A probation officer told the court that the defendant had hit a “low point in his life” and that his personal cocaine use had escalated after seeing his relationship with his ex partner breakdown.
The court heard that he has abstained from use of cannabis and cocaine since his arrest in November 2024 and had been “polite and co-operative.”
In mitigation, defence counsel Glenn Parsons explained that his client had bought in bulk for personal use and to supply to a small circle of friends.
He further argued that due to the overcrowded nature of the British prison system, the country would be better served by Valickas receiving a suspended sentence so that he could continue at his job and “contribute to society.”
Judge Mushtaq Khokhar rejected these claims stating: “You don’t have 59 bags to supply to friends.”
Pointing to his previous drug related convictions Judge Khokhar added: “On those occasions the courts gave you an opportunity, but you didn’t learn your lesson.”
He sentenced Valickas to four years in prison.