Sutton drug dealer flung a kilo of cannabis into neighbour's garden during police raid
A Sutton drug dealer who flung a kilo of cannabis into his neighbour's garden when police raided his home has turned his life around after becoming a father, a court heard.
Officers attended Ben Varley's two storey semi-detached home on March 26, 2024, and he was spotted trying to climb out of an upstairs open window, William Shelley, prosecuting, told Nottingham Crown Court.
"Once he made eye contact with an officer he threw a Lidl shopping bag into a neighbouring garden," he said.
A search of Varley's home revealed weighing scales, empty deal bags and cannabis plants. The shopping bag contained 996.50 grams of cannabis worth an estimated £6,300 to £7,000.
The court heard he received a six month conditional discharge in 2023 for possessing an offensive weapon. And three weeks later he was arrested for possession with intent to supply cannabis.
For that offence he received an 18 month sentence, suspended for two years, with 150 hours of unpaid work and rehabilitation days on March 2.
Digby Johnson, mitigating, said: "Here the great news is what has happened since. The big change occurred when he became a father. He was primarily acting as a store keeper for a large amount of drugs.
"He accepts he became involved with a group of people who were trading in drugs. There has been no further involvement with those people.
“He has moved out of the area where these offences were committed,” said Mr Johnson.
“He has stopped smoking and taking cannabis. He is a registered carer for his partner and is looking for work.”
In a letter to the judge, Varley said that becoming a father the month after this offences was committed inspired him to change his life around.
Mr Johnson said Varley was arrested in a car with someone who had a small amount of cocaine in January but was not charged with any offence.
On Wednesday, Recorder David Allan said he was impressed with the progress Varley has made.
He handed Varley a 16-month sentence, suspended for two-and-a-half years, with 150 hours of unpaid work.
“Do beware Mr Varley, there will come a time when the court's patience runs out,” he told the defendant. “And when it does, it runs out very suddenly.”