Drug dealer caught after police discover ecstasy in Sheffield house raid

Sheffield Crown Court heard on July 2 how James Hamshaw, aged 27, of no fixed abode, had been caught with 34 MDMA tablets after police attended his former partner’s home on Buchanan Crescent, at Parson Cross, Sheffield.

Judge Sarah Wright told Hamshaw: “You were caught by police in possession of MDMA and admitted supplying the tablets directly to others. This was street-dealing.”

Andrew Smith, prosecuting, said Hamshaw was present after police had been called to a disturbance on January 15, 2019, and he was found at his former partner’s property with 34 MDMA tablets.

Hamshaw admitted he had bought 86 tablets over the Dark Web for £250 and was selling them for £5 each for a profit, according to Mr Smith.

Hamshaw pleaded guilty to possessing class A MDMA drugs with intent to supply and he admitted supplying MDMA between November, 2018, and January, 2019.

Mark Dooley, defending, said Hamshaw was selling tablets to a small number of acquaintances including people he contacted by Facebook or by text messages.

Mr Dooley added Hamshaw, who had been a drug-user, has made significant progress with the probation service and has been working with support group Addaction.

Judge Wright recognised Hamshaw has limited previous convictions and he has been responding well on a current community order imposed by the magistrates’ court.

She sentenced Hamshaw to two-years of custody suspended for two years with a rehabilitation requirement and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Wright told him: “I am giving you a chance bearing in mind that you took the chance given you by the magistrates’ court.

“Make sure you take this chance because if you don’t you will go to prison for two years for this offending and anything on top.”

The defendant’s former partner Mica Hepworth, aged 28, of Buchanan Crescent, also pleaded guilty to being concerned with the supply of MDMA, according to Mr Smith, after she had handed two tablets to another on Hamshaw’s instructions.

But Judge Wright, who was impressed to see Hepworth working and caring for her family, sentenced her to a 12-month conditional discharge.