Court: Drug dealer sentenced after cops smelt cannabis in his kitchen

AN EX-MINER who was caught at home with thousands of pounds worth of drugs has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Colin Ryalls (63), of Wingfield Road, Rotherham, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday after cops discovered a stash of amphetamines and cannabis in his kitchen.

Police officers were visiting his home on March 11 last year for an unrelated matter when they detected a cannabis aroma in the kitchen, Mr Neil Coxon, prosecuting, told the court.

They found a box containing 19.1g of cannabis and another box containing 247g of amphetamine with a street value of £1,300 to £3,000.

Cops arrested Ryalls and found £600 cash in his home, Mr Coxon told the court.

They seized his mobile phone and found “texts consistent with dealing in cannabis and amphetamine”.

“There were references to him by his first name, Colin, and references to either ‘phet or whizz, meaning amphetamine, or bud, meaning cannabis,” Mr Coxon told the court.

Ryalls told police during an interview that the cannabis was for personal use and he did not want to sell it.

He said the amphetamine was not his and he was keeping it for a friend.

Ryalls later admitted possesion with intent to supply amphetamine, possession with intent to supply cannabis, supplying amphetamine and supplying cannabis.

Mitigating, Mr Gordon Stables said Ryalls had many personal difficulties and was having “a particularly difficult time”.

“The defendant would like, through me, to apologise,” Mr Stables told the court.

“He says he got mixed up with the wrong people.

“He says it wouldn’t happen again.”

Assistant Judge Advocate General Paul Camp gave Ryalls a nine-month jail sentence, which he suspended for a year.

He said: “Although I think you were to some extent a victim in all this yourself, from people further up the chain, it’s fairly plain from the messages that have been retrieved from your mobile telephone that you have played an active part in this street dealing ring.”

Mr Camp ordered Ryalls to complete 30 days of rehabilitation and made a confiscation order for the £600 found at his home.