A DRUG-dealing burglar who steals to fund his addiction has been jailed for three years. Danny Collinson, 31, was caught "red-handed" dealing Class A drugs in Folkestone Street, west Hull, on March 13, Hull Crown Court heard.
Collinson, who began taking drugs at the age of 11, was found with 67 wraps of heroin and 13 wraps of crack cocaine when he was stopped and searched by two police officers.
He immediately indicated his intention to admit what he was doing and later pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.
Collinson, of Leslie Avenue, off Lorraine Street, east Hull, also admitted two house burglaries close to his address – in Chamberlain Road on September 15 last year, and in Lorraine Street 11 days later.
Both properties were unoccupied at the time, but the court heard the burglaries were carried out to feed his drug habit.
Fiona Tannock, defending, said Collinson was now at a "turning point" in his life because his two children, from a relationship that lasted 13 years, were now at a similar age to when his own drug abuse began.
"This is a turning point in his life," she said. "He says his son and daughter are now the same age he was then.
"It impresses upon him the stage of life he is at now.
"But the defendant is very clear it all hinges on a recovery plan. He is stable on methadone now."
Collinson, a carpet fitter, has previous convictions for burglary and similar drugs offences.
He was sentenced to a community order for his last drugs offence, but failed to comply with the order, including a drug rehabilitation requirement, the court heard.
Recorder Tim Green sentenced Collinson to a total of three years in prison.
The judge told him: "I have thought carefully about the sentence in this case.
"In my judgment, an aggravating feature is your previous conviction for supplying a controlled drug of Class A, which ended up with a community order.
"Sixty-seven wraps is a significant amount of heroin to have for street dealing."
The judge said the correct sentence for the burglaries and drug dealing when taken together would be four and a half years.
But he adjusted the total in recognition of his guilty plea.
He said: "You will understand that the time you have spent on remand in these matters will be taken into account and you will be eligible for release at the halfway stage."
Collinson must also pay a £120 victim surcharge by the end of his sentence.
Recorder Green issued an order for the drugs to be destroyed.
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