Retired veteran, 79, sold cocaine to support own drug habit, Sheffield Crown Court told
A 79-year-old veteran has been told he ‘will go to prison’ if he breaches a probation order served after he pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs.
Ian Hague appeared in a wheelchair at Sheffield Crown Court today to be sentenced for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, namely cocaine.
The 79-year-old of Laurel Terrace, Skellow, Doncaster, was arrested in September 2024 after police searched his property, the court was told today.
Officers were called to the address over reports of other matters which did not result in criminal charges, the court heard, however while present they discovered large quantities of drugs.
The court was told that Hague was in possession of 21 bags of what transpired to be a total of 10.62 grams of cocaine.
The prosecuting barrister told Judge Peter Hampton that Hague - who has three adult children - was selling drugs to fellow users to support his own addiction.
A number of mitigating factors were presented to the judge, including Hague’s previous clean record, his history of employment - including nine years of service in the military - and ill health.
His barrister explained that the retired veteran has a number of health issues, including chronic renal impairment, renal vascular disease, type two diabetes, chronic kidney disease, a tumour on the kidney, inflammatory arthritis and hyper tension.
“Does cocaine help with those?” Judge Hampton asked after the health concerns were read out.
The judge asked Hague if he was alright, to which he replied ‘just tired’.
“Just tired? Well try and pay attention. It’s quite important,” he added before reading out his sentence.
The judge handed down a 20 month sentence, suspended for 18 months, 25 rehabilitation days and nine drug rehabilitation sessions.
He will also be electronically tagged.
He has also been ordered to pay £600, which will be broken into £50 payments over 12 months.
At an earlier plea hearing, Judge Hampton said that Hague would not go to prison, however added today that he didn’t want the defendant to think he had gotten away with his crimes because of his age.
“I promised you wouldn’t go to prison today and you haven’t, have you?” The judge said in court.
“I promise if you come before me again you will go to prison. Is that understood?”