Sheffield drug-dealers linked to a deceased stab victim have been sentenced for conspiring to supply cannabis
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Sheffield Crown Court heard on March 23 how Jason Baker, aged 41, Derice Cohen, aged 19, Ethan Hallows, aged 20, and Travis O’Grady, aged 20, have all admitted conspiring to supply cannabis.
Ian Hudson, prosecuting, told a previous hearing efforts were made between the defendants to bring a potential customer together with 21-year-old Sheffield boxer Kavan Brissett with the sole purpose of transacting drugs.
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Hide AdMr Hudson said Baker had received a call from a potential customer and there was communication between the defendants and an arrangement was made for Kavan Brissett to meet the customer to conduct a drug deal.
Mr Hudson added it is a “moot point” whether that transaction took place because there was subsequent violence resulting in the death of Kavan Brissett.
The court heard Kavan Brissett was stabbed after he had been dropped off at Philadelphia Gardens, Upperthorpe, Sheffield, and he later died in hospital after the incident on August 14, 2018.
Judge Graham Reeds QC told the defendants: “Each of you played a part in a conspiracy to supply cannabis.”
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Hide AdHe added: “Each of you played a different and necessary role and you accept your role and it was therefore a significant one.”
The court previously heard Cohen claimed he had facilitated only a small street deal while Hallows claimed he had simply driven Kavan Brissett.
O’Grady claimed he had spoken to Baker about sourcing cannabis, according to the court, and Baker claimed he had put the customer in touch with his co-defendants.
Judge Graham Reeds QC previously directed a jury to return not guilty verdicts for the defendants with regards to charges of conspiracy to commit robbery which all the defendants denied prior to a trial.
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Hide AdThe defendants, who all have other convictions, including Baker, of Queen Mary Rise, near Woodthorpe, Cohen, of Birch House Avenue, Oughtibridge, Hallows, of Stannington Road, Stannington, and O’Grady, of Oxford Street, near Upperthorpe, all pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply class B drug cannabis.
Judge Reeds considered that Cohen, Hallows and O’Grady had been aged 17 at the time of the offending and that O’Grady needs help with psychological problems after he found Kavan Brissett stabbed.
Rebecca Stevens, defending, said O’Grady has suffered flashbacks and nightmares.
James Horne, defending Baker, who has been recalled to prison after he had been released on licence for a previous conviction of murder, said his client had gone some time without reoffending and his partner and child have been a positive influence.
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Hide AdCohen was sentenced to 30 weeks’ detention in Young Offender Institution to be served concurrently with an existing custodial sentence.
Hallows received 28 weeks of detention relating to a YOI but because he has been remanded in custody he is eligible for release.
Baker was sentenced to 36 weeks of custody and O’Grady was sentenced to 31 weeks of detention relating to a YOI suspended for 18 months with a rehabilitation requirement and a three-month curfew.
Police previously reported how Kavan Brissett was stabbed near to Langsett Walk, Sheffield.