Jail for dealer who claimed he was forced to sell hard drugs

THE all too familiar story of a teenager mixed up in drug dealing has sadly repeated itself again.

- By JADE MCELWEE

Reece Parker's “previous debt came back to haunt him” after he was released from prison.

The 22-year-old says he was approached by an unnamed person and told to sell class A substances to repay his debt - or his family would be harmed.

Less than a week later, Cleveland Police forced entry to the dad’s Thornaby home, recovering crack cocaine and hundreds of pounds in cash.

But the “immature” street dealer with a “dreadful record” says that he “wasn’t gaining anything” and “didn’t sell any drugs” - but complied with orders as he was afraid for his safety, along with that of his family and pregnant girlfriend.

Parker appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday for sentencing after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of a class A drugs.

Prosecutor Joel Wotton stated that Parker played a “significant role” and that dealing crack cocaine was aggravated by his previous convictions.

He added that when Parker was caught with the class A drug in Stockton on March 13 he was on licence for his previous crimes.

The Middlesbrough court heard how police forced entry to Parker’s home and he “tried to escape”.