A MAN who had more than a kilogram of high-purity cocaine in his home after claiming he was pressured into supplying the drug after falling into debt has been jailed.
Police uncovered the drugs, which had a total street value of up to more than £101,000, after they attended the home of James Fenney.
Fenney, who had held a successful managerial job, had accrued a drugs debt of around £2,000 after falling into “old habits” during a personal crisis, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
The 45-year-old defendant had claimed he had been “coerced” into storing cocaine at his address in return for having his debt reduced, with threats made to him and his family, and he was given some drugs for his own personal use.
Police had attended Fenney’s home in Haydock, on August 19, last year to arrest him in relation to indecent images of children.
A search of the property led to the large quantity of high-purity cocaine being discovered.
Four tubs of the drug were found hidden inside a safe, and some in a coat located in a downstairs cupboard.
In total, 1,020.11g of the drug was found, at a street value of between around £40,000 up to £101,931.
A mobile phone was found with messages showing the user being involved in drug dealing, and the device had been re-set to factory settings three times.
Bank statements were also found showing a large number of cash deposits and regular payments to betting companies.
A small number of indecent images were also found.
Fenney had nine previous convictions for 13 offences, which included for possessing heroin, theft and driving offences.
He had received a suspended sentence over indecent images, with his latest offences putting him in breach of that order.
Fenney had pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, three counts of making indecent images and one of possessing indecent images, and appeared to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, March 20.
Defending, Paul Becker said there were “more lesser role factors present than significant role factors” in relation to the drugs supply.
He said Fenney, who secured a managerial job four years ago, had “self-medicated” with drugs in the past and fell into “bad habits”.
“The defendant says that his property was targeted, his windows smashed and damage to his car, which was reported to police”.
Fenney, who found this “very distressing […] resorted to taking substances, gambling” and fell into debt.
His mortgage was also in arrears and “because of the chaos that ensued, the defendant fell into bad habits” and began accessing chatrooms.
He said his client, who has an adult daughter at university, felt “pressurised” and felt he “had no choice” over supplying the drugs.
He added Fenney had “expressed remorse” and is “an intelligent man”.
Mr Becker said it was a “small number” of indecent images Fenney had possessed.
“He says he feels safe and jail has saved him, he hopes to become employed in industrial cleaning”.
Mr Becker added: “The defendant appreciated there has to be an immediate sentence of custody today”, asking the judge to make it as short as possible.
Passing sentence, district judge McGarva said to Fenney the messages showed “you were aware of the scale of the operation and did stand to make a significant benefit in your involvement, not least to pay off a substantial drugs debt”.
The judge noted that “in the pre-sentence report there is significant mitigation” and said “you were to some extent pressured into supplying drugs”.
He gave Fenney a term of 38 months for the drugs supply offence.
In relation to the indecent images the judge said he would pass a consecutive sentence, they are “a completely different kind of offence”.
He gave Fenney a further 12 months for this and also activated six months of the nine-month suspended term he had previously received, making a total sentence of 56 months.
Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings were opened, with a hearing scheduled in relation to this for July 20.
The judge also passed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and 10-year notification requirements.
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