A JUDGE passing sentence on a Maryport drug dealer whose use of illegal substances began when he was 13 said it was “remarkable” he is still alive.

Recorder Julian Shaw made the comment as he sentenced 45-year-old Ryan Simpson, whose 61 previous drugs offences have repeatedly landed him before courts and led to an attack which knocked out his teeth.

The defendant, of Well Lane, Maryport, admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply on October 12 last year.

Gerard Rogerson, prosecuting at Carlisle Crown Court, said the offending came to light when police raided a property in Ellenfoot Drive, Maryport, where officers found the defendant and a woman behaving suspiciously.

They were in the bathroom and Simpson had a damaged mobile phone, which he handed over only after the officers threatened him with pava spray.

“Also found at the address was a quantity of brown powder,” said Mr Rogerson. “It was on a table next to digital scales in the living room.”

The powder was 7.5g of heroin, assessed to be 15 per cent pure.

When he was interviewed, Simpson either did not answer questions or simply gave ‘no comment’ responses, said Mr Rogerson. The lawyer said the defendant’s previous crimes included drug trafficking.

He had previously been caught in a car carrying 25 Ecstasy pills, but claimed he was told they were steroid tablets.

At the time of his latest offence in Maryport, he was under a suspended 60 day sentence for that and a 30 day term for carrying a knife.

Peter Wilson, defending, said Simpson had been addicted to drugs for a long time and had mental health issues which stemmed from that. “He’s been an habitual drug user since the age of 13,” said the barrister.

“He has constantly been in and out of the justice system since he was 16 and his offending stems from a difficult childhood.”

Background reports and documents relating to the defendant’s mental health ran to 400 pages, said Mr Wilson. He suffered from PTSD and depression and suffered violence which led to bone fractures and the loss of his teeth.

Another effect was persistent back and leg pain, which made his mental health problems worse, said Mr Wilson. “But he is now working with Unity [which supports people with addiction issues],” said the barrister.

He also had the support of his family.

Recorder Julian Shaw told the defendant: “You have an extraordinary criminal record: 46 convictions for 61 drug offences and, given what I have read about you in the pre-sentence report, and the personal difficulties you have had… it is quite remarkable that you are still alive.”

The Recorder noted the defendant’s previous serious drug dealing offence – a cocaine dealing offence for which he got a five year and four-month sentence; and an older offence 15 years ago which attracted a 60-day sentence.

The judge said he was not minded to treat the defendant as a candidate for “three strike” sentencing provisions, which attract a minimum seven year sentence.

Such a classification would be unjust, said the judge. Recorder Shaw imposed a jail sentence of three years and ten months.