Judge says jailed drug dealer not 'naive' for telling the truth (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Judge says jailed Saltburn drug dealer not 'naive' for telling truth

5:51pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in News By Neil Hunter

A DRUG dealer jailed for more than three years for selling cocaine and cannabis was branded naive by his barrister for confessing.

But Judge Les Spittle told 25-year-old Matthew Crosby: "I don't regard telling the police the truth as naive - it's the best policy."

Officers found packages of both drugs when they raided Crosby's home in Marine Parade, Saltburn, east Cleveland, last July, said prosecutor Rachel Masters.

He said he had been a heavy smoker of cannabis and confessed to selling it for up to six months, but claimed that he had only just started dealing in cocaine.

Miss Masters told Teesside Crown Court that Crosby admitted in interview that the £235 cash found in the house along with the £400-plus worth of drugs was from his illegal business.

Joanne Kidd, mitigating, told Judge Les Spittle: "The way he has behaved thought this process bears all the hallmarks of someone who is extremely naive.

"He co-operated fully with all the questions the police asked and provided information they were not at that time in possession of.

"He describes that in due course his text messages would be a gold mine of information for them. He goes on to display that sort of candour with the probation officer."

Miss Kidd said Crosby used the money to pay bills.

Crosby admitted charges of possessing Class A and Class B drugs with intent to supply and supplying Class B drugs, and was jailed for the years and three months.