A West Cumbrian man has admitted peddling controlled drugs to friends in order to fund his own habit while he was in a bad way.
But because the prosecution allege that 31-year-old David Harris’s criminal conduct was more serious than he is prepared to accept, a further court hearing must take place before he is sentenced.
At Carlisle Crown Court today , Harris pleaded guilty to the illegal possession of three controlled drugs of class C — alprazolam, bromazolam and pregabalin — with intent to supply them to others. This occurred on March 30 2022.
In a signed, written explanation presented to the court by his lawyer, Harris stated: “The drugs recovered when I was arrested were mainly for my own personal use.”
However, he added: “I would occasionally supply drugs to friends if asked.” This was, he said, to fund his own habit.
But when asked for his observations, prosecutor Peter Barr said that basis was not accepted. It was alleged that Harris had played a more active role in the dealing to others on the street which could result in a stiffer sentence. There was in Harris’s case an aide-memoire, the prosecutor alleged, in the form of a price list for class C drugs.
The case was adjourned to March 6 for the calling of evidence by prosecution and defence lawyers in front of a judge who will rule on the extent of Harris’s offending. He will then be sentenced for his illegal activity.
Until then Harris, of Peter Street, Whitehaven, was granted unconditional bail. From the dock during today’s hearing, the defendant told Judge Guy Mathieson he had recently secured his own accommodation. “I’ve changed my life around,” said Harris. “Last year I was in a stupid, bad way.”
