Jailed for two years for drugs offences

Darren Deeney was jailed for two years for possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply.

Deeney, of Lenamore Park, pleaded guilty to a further charge of possessing cannabis and obstructing police on October 31, last year.

The defendant will spend half of his two-year sentence in custody, with the remaining half on licence in the community.

Derry Crown Court heard police searched the 35-year-old’s home and found him in bed.

He appeared to be doing something under the bedclothes and police found a bag of money containing £700.

Officers seized bags of cocaine from the kitchen with a street value between £3,160 and £4,740.

Over 100 grams of cannabis resin was also seized during the search, which had a street value of £545, along with a small amount of herbal cannabis.

Drug paraphernalia, including a grinder and scales, were seized during the search.

During police interview, Deeney claimed the drugs were for his own use.

He claimed he had a cocaine habit and he had taken out loans to buy the class A drug.

The 35-year-old also claimed he regularly smoked cannabis but denied dealing drugs.

Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said his client had been misusing substances for some time.

He added when Deeney was arrested he was ‘in a semi-comatose condition and had white powder around his nostrils’.

Passing sentence, Judge Philip Babington said: “Supplying drugs is always a serious offence, especially class A drugs.”