Sheffield drug-dealer found with over £22k of cocaine and heroin in home spared jail

Alexander Machin, aged 35, of Fieldhead Road, Lowfield, near Heeley, Sheffield, was caught with heroin and cocaine after a police raid at a former property, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing.

Kristian Cavanagh, prosecuting, told the hearing on April 16 police searched the Sheffield property on August 1, 2019, where the defendant had lived with his partner and plastic bags containing heroin and “crack-cocaine” were recovered.

Police also found other drugs including more cocaine, cannabis and Subutex or buprenorphine which is an opiate substitute, according to Mr Cavanagh.

Recorder Darren Preston told Machin: “Your home address was searched and a large amount of cocaine and heroin was discovered.”

The cocaine was valued at an estimated £18,000 and the heroin was valued at an estimated £4,000, according to Recorder Preston.

The defendant told police he had been required to sell drugs on behalf of others because he had built-up a significant drug-debt.

Machin pleaded guilty to possessing class A heroin with intent to supply and to possessing class A cocaine with intent to supply. He also admitted three counts of simply possessing cocaine, class B cannabis and class C buprenorphine.

Rebecca Tanner, defending, said the delay in bringing the case to a conclusion has been “excruciating” for Machin and he has since started to turn his life around.

Ms Tanner added: “There are numerous testimonials from all the professionals he has been working with and they all speak in positive terms and describe Mr Machin as someone making real efforts to turn his life around.”

She said: “The offence was committed at a time when he was in the grips of an addiction and he has overcome that addiction.”

Recorder Preston, who believes Machin has a real prospect of rehabilitation sentenced him to 20 months of custody suspended for two years with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and 200 hours of unpaid work.

He told Machin: “You should consider yourself extremely fortunate. Take this opportunity to get the help you need and pay back society.”

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