Two Luton drug dealers were caught when the police stopped a Vauxhall Astra that had an expired MOT.
Jake Bell, now 23, was driving the white Astra car and Vaidas Nartautas, 26, was in the front passenger seat as they went past Lewsey swimming pool on May 28, 2022.
When the officers stopped the car in Grange Avenue, they could smell cannabis, Luton Crown Court heard on Wednesday, January 24, 2024,.
Prosecutor Daniel Siong sad that self-sealed bags containing wraps of cocaine had been in hidden in the driver’s door panel along with £1,000 in cash.
The drugs had a street value of between £1250 and £1290.
£470 was found on Bell, who also had a Stanley knife in his pocket. Nartautas had £180 on him.
Three phones were examined which Mr Siong said showed the two men’s involvement in the supply of cocaine and cannabis.
Nartautas, of Maidenhall Road, Luton and Bell, of The Crest, appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to possession of Class A and Class B drugs with intent to supply.
Bell had also admitted possessing a blade.
In a basis of plea, Nartautas said he had begun dealing cannabis to fund his own habit. He had dealt cocaine a “very few times.”
Bell, in his basis of plea, said he did not have runners or send marketing messages and was selling to only 15 to 20 customers.
The judge, Recorder Andrew Johnson, said it was “ surprising” that the case had taken 18 months to come to court.
Andrew Corcut, defending Nartautas, said he had expected his client to be charged at the police station.
He said: “He had a low level of involvement. His dealing was limited to a small number of customers and was dealing to fund his own habit.”
In the time it had taken for him to be charged he said he had not reoffended, was working and had become the father of an 8-month-old child.
He asked for a suspended sentence given the fact that he had made positive changes to his life.
For Bell, Marianna Pasteris said he had been a “low-level” operator. She said he had not had a “luxurious lifestyle”, was working, had not reoffended and had turned his life around. His partner is expecting a child in April.
Recorder Johnson told them: “You were both low level street dealers, supplying to a small number of individuals.
“Both of you are now at a different stage in your life. It is regrettable that it has taken so long for offending like this to come court.”
He said he would pass a suspended sentence, warning them: “If you let me down there will only be one outcome.” The judge said they must understand there are no second chances.
They were given a two year jail term suspended for two years. They must attend 30 rehabilitation days and carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work. The money seized will go to a local charity.
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