"Good character" drug dealer from "entirely respectable family" avoids jail sentence, court hears

Samuel Proctor (21) of Gower Way, Rawmarsh, was found to be “looking after” drugs worth almost £1,200.

He had admitted possession of diamorphine (heroin) and crack cocaine at the first opportunity, Sheffield Crown Court was told last Wednesday.

Mr Mark Hemming, mitigating, said Proctor was “of good character”.

He said that the defendant had fallen into debt because of drug use and the people he owed money had required him to “look after drugs”.

He said: “It was to pay off a drug debt.”

Mr Hemming said Proctor had PTSD and suffered from “some psychological issues”.

He added: “He is a young lad who’s trying to better his life.”

When summarising what had happened, Judge Jeremy Richardson said on February 24 last year, Proctor had been living with his parents in the family home.

Judge Richardson said: “He left the family home in circumstances which concerned his mum.”

The judge said Proctor’s mum had believed he had gone to gone to commit suicide so she had alerted the police.

They had visited the property and as it had been locked, they had forced entry.

Judge Richardson said: “They found £1,100 worth of crack cocaine and £70 worth of heroin.

Proctor, who had no previous convictions, was “from an entirely respectable family”, the judge added.

Judge Richardson sentenced Proctor to 21 months of detention in a young offenders’ institution suspended for two years.

He was also instructed to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and attend 30 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions.