Washington cocaine dealer went back to selling drugs within weeks of release from prison

A cocaine dealer went straight back to his old ways within weeks of being released from prison for supplying drugs.

Daniel Walmsley had been locked up in May 2022 for supplying cocaine and was released from that sentence in April this year. But when police raided his home in July, they found evidence he was selling cocaine and crack cocaine.

Now the 33-year-old, of Weardale House, Washington, has been given another prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court for possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

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It was on July 30 this year that police executed a search warrant at Walmsley's home. More than 11g of cocaine were found in a bum bag and 16 foil wraps of cocaine, with a total weight of more than 3g, was also found, along with a further foil package containing more than 1g of crack.

Police also found £13,716 in cash, some of which Walmsley claimed was from selling a chain and some of which he said was not his.

A "burner" phone showed he had messaged customers "on", meaning he was ready and available to supply drugs and he had received texts asking for "powder".

Walmsley has 66 previous convictions and was jailed for four years in May 2022 for supplying cocaine and he was released from that sentence in April. For the latest offending, he admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply and was jailed for three years and eight months.

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Judge Stephen Earl told him: "You are not covering yourself in great glory are you, let's face it. Within a couple of months or so you are straight back out there dealing drugs.

"It's a quite egregious and appalling situation that within weeks you are straight back at it because there's no real lesson learned or remorse. There's nothing learned from that sentence.

"A famous person once said a foolish man is someone who does the same thing and expects to get a different outcome and that's what you've done. You go back to dealing drugs and hoped it would be different this time. Well it's not going to be."

Helen Towers, defending, said he went back to dealing to settle his debts and "he felt this was his only option". She added he is now a mentor in prison.