Downfall of drug dealer in debt

AN addict caught with hard drugs at his Chadderton home claimed he had been under pressure to pay off huge debts.

Kyle Durkin (23), who had had a settled lifestyle, a job, a partner and a young child, said he had no choice but to sell cocaine and other drugs to get himself out of financial trouble.

Jailing him for three years at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Peter Lakin told him: “Class-A drugs lead to misery and addiction; you know this better than anyone.”

Police raided Durkin’s home at the end of November and found a list of customers, a mobile phone with customer messages and 30 snap-bags of cocaine, seized from his car. The drugs were worth around £1,900.

Steven Sullivan, defending, said: “He comes from a loving and supportive family, had a settled lifestyle, a partner and was in employment, which he lost because of the effects drugs were having on him. Having lost the ability to fund his habit as he had been doing, he got himself into debt.

“Drugs have clearly been his downfall. He had everything to live for beforehand.”

Durkin admitted possessing drugs with intent to supply cocaine with intent to supply, possession of MDMA with intent, and possession of cannabis with intent.