Jail warning for dealer

Published on 23rd November 2006 in News

GOOLE career criminal Ricky Holden has been warned to expect a substantial prison sentence after being caught with a catalogue of drugs soon after early release from jail.

A mournful-looking Mr Holden (40) hung his shaven head as he pleaded guilty to four drug offences including holding a stash of £12,000 worth of "nine bars" of cannabis when police busted him.

Hardened to court appearances, Mr Holden, of Charles Drive in Goole, pleaded guilty to the charges before a scheduled trial on Tuesday at Hull Crown Court. He said he was holding the drugs for another and was not responsible for their widespread distribution.

He pleaded guilty to possessing three kilos of cannabis resin, 34 grammes of heroin, 27 grammes of crack cocaine and six grammes of cocaine. That was on July 26 this year, soon after his early release from two-year prison sentence for possession of drugs imposed in September last year at the same court

Crown barrister Nicholas Adlington did not set out details of the July case, but Hull Crown Court was earlier told it followed the arrest of Mr Holden in Goole. He had tried to throw away the "nine-ounce bars" of cannabis. The rest of the haul was found hidden at his home.

Mr Holden, a former motor trader who suffers from depression and has taken crack in the past, was jailed last year for two years after a similar offence in which he was caught with ecstasy.

It was revealed then the street price of the dance-craze drug had dropped to less than £1 on the streets of Goole. At that time Mr Holden was holding 50 ecstasy tablets with intent to supply.

Mr Holden, who has three children, showed little remorse from the dock on that occasion. The court heard he was in denial about being labelled a dealer – despite pleading guilty to two dealing charges, forgery, and two charges of possession of offensive weapons.

At his court appearance this week, barrister Tony Stevenson said: "The defence accepts he has previous convictions and as a result of that he accepts the court will deprive him of his liberty.

"However, there are details of his personal circumstances that the court will benefit from knowing before he is sentenced."

Mr Adlington said he put the court on notice there would be an application under the Proceeds of Crime Act to claw back from Mr Holden all his gains from his criminal lifestyle. He said that hearing would take place on March 20 next year at Hull Crown Court.

Judge John Dowse ordered Mr Holden to stand as he told him: "You have previous convictions for drugs and are in a very serious position. You know there will be a substantial prison sentence imposed when you come back."

He adjourned the case for a date to be fixed for sentencing at Hull Crown Court in three weeks' time. Mr Holden appeared in court wearing brown slacks, a pink shirt and a pink tie. There was no one in the public gallery to see him led away in handcuffs and to a waiting prison van to begin his jail term.