Sunderland drug user turned dealer after running up £8k debt

A drug user who was forced to turn dealer after he ran up a £8,000 debt has kept his freedom.
Kyle CopelandKyle Copeland
Kyle Copeland

Police found packages of cocaine and ketamine when the responded to a call at Kyle Copeland's home about him being assaulted in December 2018.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Copeland had been forced into selling to pay off debts he had built up through a £350-per-day habit.

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Copeland, 25, of Tower Street West, Sunderland, admitted possessing the drugs with intent to supply.

Prosecutor Paul Cross told the court police had been called to Copeland's home, where he lived alone, on December 16 2018 after a report "a man was being assaulted".

They found a package containing 4.67g of cocaine, worth up to £320 and four packages of ketamine, with a combined weight of over 14g ,worth up to £570.

David Callan, defending, said Copeland had a drug habit that was "ruining his life" and added: "He was being pressurised to pay back his drug debts by dealing in he drugs himself.

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"There is support for that by the fact this only came to the police attention by the fact the defendant was being beaten up outside his own front door.

"It wasn't the first time he had been beaten up because he owed money."

Mr Callan said Copeland is now "clean", has a job, a relationship and has rebuilt bridges with his family.

Judge Edward Bindloss sentenced Copeland to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with 150 hours unpaid work.

The judge said: "It was a £350-per-day habit which led to you owing your suppliers £8,000.

"It clearly had a devastating effect on your life."