Man sold cocaine to undercover police

Imposing an 18-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, Judge Jonathan Gosling told John Darbyshire: “In the autumn and winter of last year police launched an undercover drugs operation, one in Chesterfield and one in Buxton.

“About 40 people in total were arrested. The opinion is that peddlers of class A and class B drugs are dangerous, sinister, rather dark entrenched criminals from neighbouring cities, but far from it. Almost without exception they have all been similar to you, essentially decent honest responsible men, young men from stable families with a sound education and good jobs.

“It is a real tragedy a young man in your position has sunk to such depths. People with habits abuse drugs. Buyers are desperate for money to fuel their habit. I see the results of it every day. They will do anything to get money. They end up burgling houses, terrorising kids so they can rob their phones, and standing over people at cash points. That is because people like you peddle drugs. That is one big contribution to crime in this county and elsewhere in the country and for that you are in part responsible.”

Derby Crown Court heard on Friday how Darbyshire, 21, was in Beltane in Buxton on October 31, 2013, with a group of other men. One of the men received a phone call from an undercover police officer, who was also in the bar, to arrange a drug deal. The officer was then given Darbyshire’s phone number and told to contact him for drugs in the future.

“Later that night when the test purchase officer met this defendant he told the officer that the stuff he was selling, the cocaine, was bare, meaning strong,” prosecutor Alexander Wolfson said. “It is quite likely those drugs supplied came from this defendant.”

On November 28, a telephone conversation between an officer and Darbyshire took place when the pair discussed another deal. “He (Darbyshire) said he wasn’t picking anything up tonight but was on Saturday,” Mr Wolfson added. “He also said that he had recently had some trouble so would be changing his telephone number soon.”

The two deals were 0.38 and 0.41 grams respectively, with a street value of around £80, the court heard.

Darbyshire, of Park Road, admitted supplying class A cocaine and offering to supply cocaine.

He was also ordered to complete 200 hours’ unpaid work, a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and 18-months supervision. He must pay a £100 surcharge.