A prolific offender has been jailed for four years for supplying heroin and crack cocaine.
Shayne Garnett, 54, was due to receive the maximum seven-year jail sentence because it was his third conviction for dealing Class A drugs.
Instead, he received a four-year jail term at York Crown Court today (Monday) due to mitigating circumstances including his age and infirmity.
Garnett and his co-accused Robert Grafton-Holt, from York, were arrested on the A64 at Selby in July 2020.
Following a full search of the vehicle, officers recovered heroin worth around £1,200, crack cocaine worth in excess of £2,000, cannabis and two mobile phones.
They were charged with two counts of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply.
Garnett denied the drugs were his. But a North Yorkshire Police investigation found that he offered money to the driver to take him to Liverpool to collect the drugs to bring them back to sell in York.
A mobile phone used by Garnett showed conversations relating to the sale of browns and whites – slang terms for heroin and crack cocaine.
They initially denied the offences, but Garnett admitted both counts on the second day of his trial earlier this year and Grafton-Holt pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.
Grafton-Holt, of Burton Stone Lane, was given a two-year suspended prison sentence in May after admitting the offences on the day of trial.
Prosecutor Rachael Landin said that Garnett – formerly of York but now of Norwood Street, Scarborough – had 67 previous offences on his record including two previous convictions for dealing Class A drugs.
In October 2016, he and two other dealers were jailed for a combined 20 years after they were caught running a highly lucrative drug-dealing operation in York.
It was said they may have raked in as much as £1.8 million over three-and-a-half years by selling heroin and cocaine from a council flat in Lowther Street in The Groves.
Four year term
Defence barrister Charlotte Noddings said that Garnett had an array of serious health problems.
Judge Anthony Hawks said Garnett had an “appalling record for a variety of offences” including seven drug matters.
However, he said that Garnett’s age and ill health meant it would be “unjust” to impose the maximum seven-year jail sentence.
Instead, Garnett received a four-year prison term of which he will serve half behind bars before being released on prison licence.
North Yorkshire Police investigating officer, DC Darren May, said: “Illegal drugs ruin lives and spoil the quality of life in our communities. The drug trade is driven by the greed of dealers who make money at the expense of vulnerable people’s addictions.
“We continually target drugs coming into the county to disrupt supply networks. If you are involved in the supply of drugs in any capacity, you could be the next arrest.
“Garnett is a career drug dealer who despite previous convictions for similar offences has continued to deal in Class A drugs. I am pleased with the sentence that the Court has imposed today, taking into consideration Garnett’s guilty plea”
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