Doncaster addict caught dealing cocaine to fund his drug debt

Sheffield Crown Court heard on September 16 how Steffan Ball, aged 33, of Clayfield View, Mexborough, was caught intending to supply cocaine twice within three days by plain-clothed police in Mexborough on November 12 and 15, last year.

Christopher Dunn, prosecuting, said: “On November 12 plain-clothes police officers were patroling Main Street, Mexborough, in South Yorkshire, at a known drug-dealing hot-spot in that area, when officers saw an exchange between the defendant and another male and police arrested the defendant.”

Ball had 33 wraps of cocaine worth £330 and cash and he was released on police bail, according to Mr Dunn, but another team of plain-clothed police on Schofield Street, Mexborough, caught him acting suspiciously on a football pitch on November 15.

Mr Dunn said: “They gave chase and arrested him and he admitted there were drugs on his person.”

Police recovered 36 wraps of cocaine worth £360 with cash during the second arrest, according to Mr Dunn.

Mr Dunn said that following both arrests police recovered £490 in cash.

Ball, who has previous convictions and has been remanded in custody, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

Brian Outhwaite, defending, said Ball had a very difficult start to life with both parents taking class A drugs when he was 11-years-old and at around that time his father was murdered.

Mr Outhwaite added: “He began to take cannabis at 11-years of age and went on to progress to more serious substances – in his case cocaine – and then crack-cocaine.”

Ball became addicted, according to Mr Outhwaite, and he had to sell drugs to fund his cocaine habit and was also forced to sell drugs to repay his drug-debt.

Recorder Keir Monteith QC told Ball: “You have remained clean in prison and whatever comes out of this I hope you can continue to take small steps and take bigger steps to rid yourself of drugs for good.”

He sentenced Ball to two-years of custody.

Recorder Monteith added: “I very much hope you will continue to be clean in prison and take advantage of the help and assistance of the various agencies.”