A gambler from Nottingham who won £10,000 “had a last bit of debauchery” and bought cocaine for himself and his friends with some of the winnings. Nottingham Crown Court heard how Joshua Kirby knew he was going to be arrested by the police so splashed some of his cash on the class A drug.
When police arrived at a Bestwood address to recall the 34-year-old to prison he had hidden the drugs, but officers searched the property and tracked it down. Messages recovered from the father’s phone showed he had been either selling or giving it away to his circle of mates.
Victoria Rose, mitigating, said: “Mr Kirby has written an eloquent letter to the court setting out how he has changed his life since 2021. He had battled with drugs but he has managed to now stop and he has been drug-free for some time.
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“Family is extremely important to him and he appreciates the support of his family in court today. He was able to pay off all of his drug-related debts through his gambling winnings.
“That was £10,000 and he knew that the police were going to arrest him so what he did was a last bit of debauchery. He was consuming 2g per day and his usage was out of control at the time.
“What he had was small amounts which he was giving away to his circle of friends.” Jon Fountain, prosecuting, said police went looking for Kirby on a prison recall and on December 11, went to an address in Beckhampton Road.
The prosecutor said: “He had hidden but they searched and found a tub containing cocaine along with some scales. Mr Kirby was arrested and in interview denied dealing.
“But his mobile phone was examined and showed that for a period of time after being released from his last prison sentence he had been selling or giving cocaine to others. His bank account was also examined and showed he’d had a substantial win gambling and had indulged himself because he was a user and continued to give it away to friends if they asked.”
Kirby, of Birkdale Way, Top Valley, pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine and possession of cocaine. He has 10 convictions for 27 offences.
Handing him a two-year jail term, suspended for two years, Recorder Brian Whitehead said: “I accept you were selling or giving it away to your friend and, on occasion, friends of friends and you are extremely fortunate.” The judge ordered the defendant to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work as part of the suspended sentence order.