Man caught with wraps of cocaine and heroine in Grantham spared jail after court heard he was holding the drugs for others he was scared of

A man caught with 59 wraps of heroin and crack-cocaine on the streets of the Grantham was spared jail after a court heard he was holding the drugs for others he was scared of.

Keenan Powell, 26, from Nottingham, was arrested on College Street, Grantham, in July 2019 after CCTV operators alerted police to a suspected drug deal.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Powell was taken to Grantham police station where a purple plastic glove was seen to fall to the ground during a search.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said the glove was found to contain 38 brown coloured wraps which were later confirmed to be heroin.

A further 19 white coloured wraps and two gold coloured wraps were found to contain crack-cocaine.

The total value of the 59 wraps was estimated at £390, Mr Howes told the court.

Following Powell's arrest a search warrant was carried out at his flat in Manor Croft, Old Basford, Nottingham.

During the search officers recovered a small box which contained 21 grammes of crack-cocaine and 23 grammes of heroin worth a combined total of just over £4,000.

Powell later pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply others.

The court heard Powell entered his guilty pleas on a basis that he did not personally benefit financially from the drugs transactions and was holding the items for someone he was scared of.

Hal Ewing, mitigating, told the court Powell had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after being the victim of two stabbings.

"These offences are now four years old," Mr Ewing added. "In that time Mr Powell has dramatically turned his life around."

Passing sentence Judge James House KC told Powell: "You were holding the drugs for others who you were scared and intimidated by.

"You believed you were holding Class B drugs, probably cannabis, not Class A drugs."

Powell was sentenced to an 18 month community order and must complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.