(Image: The Northern Echo)
A young drug user driven into dealing to pay back his debts is facing prison.
Taylor Abel, from Dalton-on-Tees near Darlington, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday (October 6) to face three offences dating from August 9, 2024.
He admitted possessing the class A drugs MDMA, (ecstasy), and cocaine with intent to supply, plus a similar offence involving the class B drug, ketamine.
Johnny Walker, for Abel, told the court: “He’s a young man with a record portraying a significant period of his life under the influence of drugs, going back to June 2019, when he was aged under 20.
“He’s put himself in a difficult situation.”
Mr Walker said Abel’s long-term drug misuse had left him with, “a significant debt to an individual living in Darlington”.
He told the court: “He was paid to work, operating on behalf of another.
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“But this is mitigation more than anything else.”
Judge Nathan Adams told Abel: “You are aware that such offences usually carry a prison sentence, but the case will be adjourned for a pre-sentence report to look into your background.”
Abel, of Dalton Meadows, was bailed to return for sentencing on Thursday, November 19.