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Gloucestershire Business News

Jail for teenage drug dealer

An 18 year old Gloucester rugby player who presented a court with 'glowing references' was told there is no point being a role model when you are a hard drug dealer.

Prince Sabra, of Bourton Road, Tuffley admitted possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply on 1st December last year. He was just 17 at the time.

Prosecutor Janine Wood told Gloucester crown court that Sabra was seen by an off-duty police officer in the Armscroft area of Gloucester at 10.30 am.

The officer, who was walking his dog, believed he witnessed a drug deal, and notified on-duty colleagues.

Sabra was arrested and found to be in possession of 74 'wraps' of heroin and crack cocaine with a street value of £2,300.

He also had electronic scales and two mobile phones on him, and those phones were said to contain 'drug marketing messages'.

Sabra said he had only been peddling hard drugs for a week, but Mrs Wood said the evidence pointed to him being involved for 'months'.

The prosecutor said: "Quite clearly it is not just a week, it is several months."

Judge Cullum said it gave him 'no pleasure' to jail Sabra, but added: "This is not a trafficked 17 year old who was exploited. This is drug dealing by a 17 year old for profit, and functioning within that misguided world."

Mrs Wood confirmed that there were no previous convictions recorded against Sabra.

His defence lawyer, Joe Maloney, said it was a 'tragedy' his client was before the court for such a serious offence.

"There is a completely different aspect to him. He is respected in the community, and well liked.

"He has been instrumental in helping projects to help other young people."

In relation to this offence, the lawyer said: "He buried his head in the sand. This is extremely serious.

"This is perhaps a case where it would not be in the interests of justice to strictly follow the sentencing guidelines.

"He made his admissions as a 17 year old. The emphasis in terms of young people is to prevent further offences.

"He is unlikely to re-offend. That is borne out by the probation assessment.

"It is fair to say he is terrified. Absolutely terrified," Mr Maloney said.

"He has a glowing future ahead of him. He made a colossal, colossal mistake.

"He is of good character, from a good family. This was an aberration, there is real regret here," Mr Maloney concluded urging the judge to suspend the prison sentence.

The judge said: "He was selling the drugs commercially. He was at one stage uninhibited enough to photograph himself with the spoils of it.

"He made disastrous decisions, which will result in an immediate custodial sentence.

"The wrong choices have been made whether it was a week or a month."

Sending Sabra to detention for 20 months he said: "There was going to be a lot of drugs you would unleash to the streets of your local community.

"You were comfortable with what you were doing. It was a lot more than most people are found with when peddling drugs on the streets.

"You with a promising college career and sporting prowess, with glowing references. You turned yourself into a commercial drug dealer. Society despises people that do that.

"You would have known that. You would have had some awareness of the misery, even at 17. You made the decision to get in with those people, and to sell those drugs. It brings shame on you, your parents, and to those that speak so highly of you.

"It is no good being a role model at a rugby club if you are a class A dealer," the judge said.

"So, I have the sad task, and I consider it that it. You will go to detention."

Sabra was sentenced to 20 months detention in a young offenders institution.

He was taken to the cells with tears streaming down his face.

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