A drug addict caught with a knife and crack cocaine has been given a second chance
and live on Freeview channel 276
Officers approached David Dempsey on St Stephen's Road, Netherthorpe, on July 4 last year, following a tip-off that he was ‘acting strangely and was believed to be selling drugs.’
David Lawson, mitigating, said Dempsey had gone out at 1am to pick up some drugs.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe court heard he had sold all of his property because of his dependency, and he had fallen out with his family.
"He feels that he has lost his family and he knows he's got this problem with addiction," Mr Lawson said, adding Dempsey had been out of trouble for a long time.
Dempsey, aged 34, of no fixed address, admitted possession of the Class A drug and the blade, when he appeared at Sheffield Magistrates Court on April 2.
District Judge Naomi Redhouse told him: "We're in difficult times. I'm going to try my best to put you in touch with some agencies.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"If not you're going to fall through the cracks and into custody."
The judge sentenced him to 14 days’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, on condition he stays out of trouble and complies with the probation service for 20 days of rehabilitation.
But she warned him: "People who carry knives need to understand they will go to prison. Any further offending and you will go to prison."