A Carlisle teenager has been warned immediate imprisonment is a “very likely” option after he admitted dealing cocaine to users.
Aidan Roberts, now aged 19, had just turned 18 when his offence came to light, the city’s crown court heard this morning.
Roberts pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing cocaine with intent to supply the class A drug to another on 12th May, 2021.
Defence lawyer Mark Shepherd told the court that Roberts accepted his illegal activity had involved “supplying it to end users”, and added: “He says that in essence he was doing so at the behest of somebody above him in the chain”.
Judge David Potter adjourned the case for preparation of a probation service pre-sentence report. In the meantime Roberts, of Helvellyn Rise, Carlisle, was granted bail with one condition being residence at that address.
He will return to court on April 17, the date provisionally set for a sentencing hearing.
“I am directing the preparation of a pre-sentence report,” said the judge. “That will look into your background and the circumstances of this offence. It may make recommendations to this court as to sentence but the court is not bound to follow them. All sentencing options, including an immediate custodial sentence, remain open.”
And Judge Potter warned: “Immediate imprisonment is a very likely outcome that you should prepare yourself for on 17 April.”
