2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Mark Naylor)
A drug dealer was found with large stashes of "magic mushrooms" and cannabis as well as a lucrative haul of more than £54,600 cash after police raided his home. Stuart Morris started using increasing amounts of cannabis to ease the pain that he was suffering after being attacked with a meat cleaver. He also started using the hallucinogenic mushrooms before turning to dealing in them, Hull Crown Court heard.
Morris, 32, of Bathurst Street, off Hessle Road , west Hull, admitted being concerned in supplying psilocybin mushrooms and cannabis and acquiring £54,620 cash as criminal property. Andrew Petterson, prosecuting, said that police went to the home of Morris on November 12 to execute a warrant and found clear evidence that Morris was involved in the supply of magic mushrooms and cannabis. Drugs equipment as well as up to 2kg of cannabis, with a street value of £14,915, and a large amount of cash was seized.
Nine bags of magic mushrooms, valued at £5,270, were found. "The defendant clearly had an expectation of significant financial advantage," said Mr Petterson. "He was either selling direct to users or was a mid-level dealer supplying other low-level dealers.
" Morris had convictions for two offences of possessing cannabis but nothing for supplying drugs. Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said that Morris claimed that the amount of cannabis found at his home was 1.5kg and not 2kg but it was still a significant amount.
"The defendant was selling directly to users," said Mr Robinson. "He did use cannabis and would have used some of this. He didn't tell the whole truth that he was dealing cannabis as well.
He has used cannabis to a modest extent for many years." Morris had worked in the past in a variety of jobs. His cannabis use greatly increased after he was attacked and hit on the head with a meat cleaver, meaning he was unable to work.
The cannabis provided a comfort and a relief to his symptoms after the attack. He started using magic mushrooms and then dealing in them. "A significant amount of cash was found and the defendant accepts that a lot of that was from drugs," said Mr Robinson.
"Some was from benefit money. Get all the latest crime and court news in Hull straight to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here . If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time.
We also treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here . "He was supplying to fund his own addiction.
He had realised before his arrest that this was getting completely out of hand. He considered his arrest to be a blessing in disguise. He didn't want to go to prison, of course.
Who would?" Recorder Alistair MacDonald KC told Morris: "This was a substantial operation. You had a heavy drug habit that you were feeding by selling these drugs." Morris, who had been in custody on remand, was jailed for four years and 10 months.
The cash seized will be forfeited..
