Northern Ireland

Co Antrim drug dealer caught after posing on social media with cannabis plant

Laganside Court in Belfast
Laganside Court in Belfast Laganside Court in Belfast

A Co Antrim drug dealer was caught by police after he posed on social media with a cannabis plant, a court has heard.

The arrest of David Samuel Gordon came just two months after he was detained by police on separate drug offences.

The 32-year-old, of Ballybracken Road, Ballynure, pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court today to possession of Class A and Class B drugs with intent to supply and having £1,640 in criminal property.

He received a 15-month sentence, with five to be spent in custody and 10 months on supervised licence on his release.

Prosecution lawyer Jim Johnston told the court that police carried out a search of his home in October 2018 and recovered quantities of MDMA tablets, mephedrone, amphetamine (speed) and herbal cannabis resin.

Officers also found drug-related paraphernalia including 'deal bags' and a cannabis grinder.

Gordon's mobile was examined and showed details of drug deals, Judge Stephen Fowler heard.

Mr Johnston said that in August 2018, Dunlop had been detected for "similar type offences'' and subsequently received a 15-month-sentence at Craigavon Crown Court.

He added that he had appeared in court on four previous occasions for drug offences.

A defence lawyer said when the father-of-two appeared at court in Craigavon, the sentencing judge was aware that "other drug offences from October 2018 were in the pipeline''.

He added that police had come to his Ballynure home after he was "caught on social media with a photograph of a cannabis plant''.