Slavery claim helps to keep drug dealer out of prison

A crack-cocaine dealer who was told he was looking at “inevitable” custody walked from court after it was heard his case was being considered as potential slavery.

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The judge at Leeds Crown Court deemed the case of David Taylor as “unusual” because it was picked up by the National Referral Mechanism, which identifies victims of modern-day slavery.

It concerns the 48-year-old's claims he was coerced into selling drugs to pay off a debt accrued by his own addiction to crack cocaine.