Drugs offender caught cycling around with €2k in crack and heroin - Courts News Ireland

A drugs offender who was caught cycling a bike while carrying a burner phone and almost €2,000 in crack cocaine and heroin has appealed against the severity of his ten-month prison sentence. The District Court Appeals Court heard that Dean Whittaker (33) initially resisted arrested but later made full admissions that he was dropping off the drugs for sale and

A drugs offender who was caught cycling a bike while carrying a burner phone and almost €2,000 in crack cocaine and heroin has appealed against the severity of his ten-month prison sentence.

The District Court Appeals Court heard that Dean Whittaker (33) initially resisted arrested but later made full admissions that he was dropping off the drugs for sale and supply.

Whittaker, with an address in Ballymun, Dublin, was convicted in the District Court of possessing cocaine and diamorphine for the purpose of unlawful sale and supply, contrary to section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.

He was also charged with possession of the controlled drugs and obstructing or impeding a garda member on the same date. He was sentenced to ten months imprisonment and later lodged an appeal against the severity of that sentence.

Garda Pierce O’Dwyer said that on March 28, 2023, he stopped and informed Whittaker that he would be searching him under misuse of drugs laws, telling the court that the appellant initially resisted before being restrained.

The witness said that Whittaker handed over crack cocaine and diamorphine worth €1,976 euro in total.

Garda O’Dwyer said that Whittaker later made full admissions, telling gardai that he was dropping off drugs for sale and supply and admitting that he had a burner phone on him at the time.

He said that Whittaker has 84 previous convictions, including those for the misuse of drugs, assault and obstruction offences.

Defence counsel for Whittaker said that his client is now doing a lot better and has moved away from his offending behaviour.

She said that Whittaker has taken significant steps and has been engaging with the Star Project and the job centre. She also said that he has been clean of substances for 12 months.

Defence counsel asked the judge to consider suspending the jail term to give Whittaker motivation in turning things around, and so that the jail sentence would be hanging over him.

Judge Cephas Power said that this offending was at the “top end” of the District Court level.

He said at that moment, he was not inclined to interfere with the sentence but gave the defence the opportunity to provide urine analysis and letters to the court.

The case was re-mentioned today for Whittaker to provide more letters to the court. Judge Power said that he still wanted to see urine analysis and a letter from the person Whittaker is dealing with in the Star Project.

He decided to list the case again for mention in the new court term.