A young Kendal man who turned to heroin dealing after his life “literally collapsed around his ears” has been jailed for more than two years.
Twenty-year-old Will Chambers was caught red-handed as police raided his flat at the River View homeless sheltered housing project on Lound Road at 7-40am on 8th January.
Chambers was asleep and, as officers arrested him and told he would be searched, a green pill bottle was found in his hand. This contained 15 wraps of a brown powder later found to be heroin.
A further 25g of the class A drug was seized from his flat along with two mobile phones and associated paraphernalia, along with £2,365 cash.
A drugs expert concluded the illegal substance stash could potentially have fetched up to £5,000 if sold on the street.
Chambers admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply and the possession of criminal property.
At Carlisle Crown Court this afternoon (February 24), Chambers’ barrister described him as an immature young man who had turned to drug dealing through “naivety” after losing his job, home, partner and child.
“It is quite extraordinary,” said Andrew Nuttall, defending, that in such a short space of time his whole life has literally collapsed around his ears.”
But Mr Nuttall’s plea for the inevitable jail term to be suspended fell on deaf ears.
Judge Nicholas Barker, who heard Chambers had breached a community order by committing his latest crimes, ordered him to serve 28 months in a young offenders’ institution.
“I accept you are remorseful,” said Judge Barker, but he added: “I consider that dealing in this way – despite all of your personal circumstances – is so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate.”
