A DEALER who sold cocaine to pay off his own drug debts has been told he is likely to escape jail.

When police stopped Gavin Hughes in a car in Colchester they found £1,000 in cash, two mobile phones and eight wraps of white powder which were found to be cocaine.

There was also a tick list of prospective buyers and their details.

A search of his house uncovered ten empty deal bags and further phones.

Hughes, 45, has admitted possession with intent to supply class A drugs and possession of criminal property - the money.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard he was a heavy drug user at the time of the offence in May last year and was dealing to pay back money he owed.

John Hurlock, mitigating, said Hughes had worked tirelessly to turn his life around since he was caught.

“He has taken steps himself in relation to his drug use,” he said.

“Between the offence and now he has been working until he was forced to stop because of the pandemic in March.

“He also had another potential employer prepared to give him a job in the future.

“After committing an undoubtedly serious offence, all you can do is take steps to get better.

“He had done that and more.”

Mr Hurlock said Hughes was also the main carer for his elderly father which was especially important because of the coronavirus crisis.

Judge Patricia Lynch QC said she would consider suspending the sentence but needed a pre-sentence report from the probation service first in relation to whether Hughes, of Lord Holland Road, Colchester, was suitable for a drug rehabilitation requirement order.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I am considering a suspended sentence order but would not dream of passing one without a report into the feasibility of a drug rehabilitation requirement,” she said.

“I have somebody before me whose basis of plea was that they were addicted to drugs.

“It is important to consider it.”

The sentencing was adjourned until July.

Judge Lynch ordered the drugs seized by police to be destroyed.