A north Cumbrian cocaine dealer has been handed a five-year jail term by a judge who told him that drugs destroy lives, communities and families.
Bradley Cowan, now 22, initially came to the attention of police as he rode an electric bike dangerously in Longtown, on May 10 2024.
“Officers attended his home address and saw him run from the house and attempt to flee,” prosecutor Andrew Evans told Carlisle Crown Court today.
There was a violent arrest which resulted in Cowan being charged with — and later sentenced for — assaulting an emergency worker.
He was detained at a rear gate and found to be in possession of six cocaine wraps and £460 cash.
“A mobile telephone found on him was examined and revealed messages between the defendant and others offering to sell drugs and arranging distribution of the same,” said Mr Evans.
While on bail, on September 11 2024, Cowan was again searched by police after staff at Carlisle’s Walkabout bar indicated that he was using drugs in a toilet.
He was found in possession of £1,225 cash and was seen on CCTV to have discarded something into a nearby bin. This was a wrap of cocaine.
Plastic wrapping, more cash, cannabis buds and remnants of white powder were found during a search of Cowan’s address but when interviewed he denied involvement in drugs supply.
But more messages consistent with dealing throughout August and September 2024, were unearthed when a phone was examined.
Cowan and police crossed paths a third time on January 31 this year. Officers went to his address, suspecting he was dealing drugs. In his bedroom they found cocaine and cannabis — separated into deal bags and ready for onward supply.
A golf ball-sized bag of cocaine was also located, along with weighing scales, deal bags and £500 cash.
Cowan again denied wrongdoing, other than personal use of cocaine. But when later brought to court he admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine, two counts of possessing the class A drug with intent to supply; possessing cannabis with intent to supply and possessing criminal property.
During a court sentencing hearing, defence solicitor David Wales, mitigating said Cowan had, throughout his life, reported and demonstrated symptoms of extensive mental health problems.
Cowan, of Lochinvar Close, Longtown, had not been offered assistance at a younger age when he should have been; and more recently had been reluctant to engage when assistance was made available.
“Mr Cowan has, as so many do, begun self-medicating, having established a drug habit for that reason, and has then progressed to selling drugs in order to fund his own habit,” said Mr Wales.
Passing sentence, Recorder Ciaran Rankin said he had taken Cowan’s mental health issues into account.
“That does not offer you any excuse whatsoever for dealing in class A drugs,” said the judge. “Those who deal in class A drugs in particular must know that they inevitably will receive immediate custodial sentences.
“They (drugs) destroy lives, communities and families. With that comes significant penalties for those caught in that type of behaviour.
