Drug dealer given “last chance”

Liam Roddis (19), was one of five occupants of a car stopped by police and was seen trying to hide something.

Officers found he had a bag of powder later identified as mephadrone and a hand-rolled cannabis joint.

A number of texts relating to the supply of drugs were found on his mobile phone, said Mr Michael Tooley, prosecuting.

Roddis, who had no previous convictions, told police did not supply drugs and said he had allowed his friends to use his mobile.

But Mr Tooley said he had played a “significant” role in supplying drugs to others and asked for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.

Mr Jim Baird, mitigating, said the teenager had started work at a recycling plant and argued he should not be jailed.

Roddis, of Fleming Way, Flanderwell, admitted possessing mephadrone and cannabis and offering to supply cannabis on August 9.

Recorder Mark McKone said the texts clearly showed he had been dealing in drugs last summer partly to fund his own habit.

“This was street dealing, you were going to make money from this,” he told Roddis at Sheffield Crown Court.

He gave Roddis ten months’ detention at a young offenders institution suspended for two years, 200 hours of unpaid work along with an attendance centre requirement of 27 hours.

The judge said: “You have come close to prison today.

“The courts will not tolerate drug dealing. You should be allowed one chance and one chance only that you should not offend again. I very much hope you won't let me down.”