Leeds cocaine dealer searched by police on his birthday says he is 'too old' for the job

A drug dealer whose home was searched by police on his birthday has said he is now "too old" for the job.

Mark McGregor, 46, has been put behind bars for 44 months after 111g of cocaine was found by officers from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit on October 23 this year.

McGregor, of Thorpe Lane in Middleton, told police in his interview that the drugs were for his own personal use and he was saving them for Christmas and New Year.

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Prosecutor Rachel Webster told Leeds Crown Court on Thursday: "He was at home with his partner ad children and officers found 111g of cocaine, empty grip seal bags, weighing scales and several mobile phones. An extendable baton was seized and he has been sentenced for that. He was asked if there was anything else in the house and he said no at first but then identified a bag of white powder and inside said it was cocaine and bash.

"He was interviewed and denied the offence and said the drugs were for personal use and said he had purchased that quantity in advance so he was ready for Christmas and New Year. He was charged with possession with intent to supply and said he wasn't selling it, it was for himself."

The court heard McGregor went on to admit the charge at the magistrates' court. It was said he was on licence at the time, having been released from a 58 month sentence for the same offence in February this year.

Mitigating, Adrian Pollard, said: "He is 46 and in his own words is too old for this and he needs to stop. He knows he needs to stop and he has. When he returned from his last sentence he returned to his partner. He had moved out of his property to a different location...He had managed to turn over a new leaf and he was free of those who were around him when he was previously before the court."

However, the court heard his past came "knocking" and McGregor was required to work to pay off the debt he had accrued when the drugs were lost before he was charged with his last offending. Mr Pollard said: "He said somebody came knocking on his door. He didn't want to return to this and he wanted to stay out of trouble and be a family man and do the right thing.

"He had got his driving licence and was going to use that to turn his life around to be a law-abiding citizen and get employment."

It was said McGregor was wanted to do more "serious" work, but he negotiated that to selling drugs to acquaintances from his home. The court heard he had done that to "protect" his family. Mr Pollard said: "He is not the sharpest tool in the box. This is not a sophisticated operation, this was a man making a decision he thought was to protect his children and partner and in his mind says he would rather go to jail than someone hurt his family."

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However, a sceptical Judge Ray Singh told McGregor receipts for expensive bracelets, Tag Hauer watches and a number of mobile phones were found at his home and added: "I'm sure if you owe people money, you wouldn't be able to buy items at such expense so I'm sceptical."

The judge said: "If I had money for every time a person came before me and said, 'Judge this is the last time' I would be very rich. I anticipate you were too old to do all of this two or three years earlier when there you were supply class A drugs. To those matters you pleaded not guilty and only on the morning of the trial you pleaded guilty and you received a lengthy sentence. Perhaps, what you have learned is admitting it when you are caught, so there is one lesson that has sunk in."

The judge said he anticipated the courts would see McGregor again and added: "Because you are the kind of offender who has amassed nearly 100 convictions and you simply won't stop...You were not a novice in this field."

McGregor was jailed for 44 months.

Speaking after the sentencing, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Al Burns of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) said: “Our officers acted on intelligence provided by members of the local community to investigate McGregor and we found that he was once again dealing in Class A drugs.

“I’m pleased that we have been able to take action to stop his activities and put him behind bars.”

“Officers rely on information from the community to tackle crime and I would urge anyone with information about illegal drug dealing to contact police. Your actions can make a difference.”

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