By Man charged following undercover Police ‘sting operation’
A man in Scunthorpe supplied class A drugs to undercover officers, as part of a sting operation by officers from Humberside Police.
Alex Ellis, 46, admitted to two counts of the supply of heroin, one count of supplying crack cocaine, and one count of supplying a controlled drug.
Grimsby Crown Court heard that on October 20, October 21, January 6, and January 24, undercover police officers posed as drug users to meet Mr. Ellis, who has 23 previous convictions for 71 offences.
Prosecuting, Benjamin Donnell told the court that Ellis was arrested on June 7 this year and answered ‘no comment’ when interviewed by police.
Mitigating, Digby Johnson said: “Mr. Ellis has no control over the business of which he became involved. He plays a small role in a large mission.
“He really is perhaps at the very bottom of that category. How does it come to pass that Mr. Ellis finds himself back before a court?
“From 2004 he was in steady employment until 2014. He worked as a driver in industrial plants.
“He found himself without a job and without a roof over his head. He was taken in with friends and he started to misuse drugs,” Mr. Johnson continued.
The court heard that Ellis’ was clean, until 2021 when his life “spiralled out of control” and he started to use.
Sentencing Ellis, Judge Michael Fanning said: “It looks like you have spent 30 years or so committing criminal offences but that is not the case.
“You had a period of prolific offending which came to an end in 1994. You lose your job, you lose your home and you get into the use of drugs and it was a downward spiral. I am dealing with several individuals as part of a police sting.
“The reality is, you have fallen so far into drug addiction and there is an element of you being exploited because of your habit. You would hand drugs over.
“I accept you have no influence over those above you in this chain. You wanted to meet your own needs of acquiring drugs for yourself. You were trying to fund your habit but you do have an understanding of the operation.
“I do not condone drug dealers but I recognise you were in a difficult position. Hopefully, you will stay out of trouble.”
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