By Man charged after officer sold ‘high purity’ drugs in Police sting
An undercover police officer was sold Class A drugs by a ‘street beggar’ in Scunthorpe, after approaching the man to buy the Class A drugs.
As part of a force operation, Humberside Police used ‘covert tactics’ in an operation codenamed Patriot to disrupt the supply of Class A drugs to the town.
Christopher Mawson, 24, of Dale Street, Scunthorpe admitted two counts of being involved with the supply of Class A drugs and two counts of the supply of Class A drugs, following his arrest as part of Operation Patriot.
At Grimsby Crown Court, Senior Crown Advocate, Jeremy Evans told the court police carried out the operation between October 2021 and June this year. It was reported more than 30 suspects were arrested.
At 11.40 am on February 28, one of the officers spoke to Mawson on Frodingham Road, Scunthorpe. The man then led the officer to Dale Street where cocaine and heroin of ‘high purity’ were sold by Mawson.
A drug sting was carried out on March 2, where police were able to trace the property in Dale Street, to where the drugs were produced. Mawson was arrested on May 27. Mr. Evans said it was “classic street dealing.”
The defendant had 13 convictions for 18 offences, which included robbery and attempted robbery. Representing Mawson, Richard Lunn said his client was “a troubled young man who had a difficult upbringing with a rather pathetic lifestyle.”
Mr. Lunn said his client was a ‘courier’ and the begging on the street was evidence he did not make money. “He was provided with his own drugs to take,” he said.
Sentencing Mawson to two years and four months in prison, Judge Michael Fanning said he took into account his 10-year experience in the criminal justice system.
He said: “It is not lost on me, your difficulty with homelessness. You have not taken steps to get yourself into accommodation. You are a magnet for those people who behave in this way.”
He concluded Mawson had a long and unhealthy addiction to Class A drugs.
