A 23-year-old Gloucester man who started dealing in crack cocaine and heroin to pay off his gambling debts has been jailed for 31 months.

Gloucester Crown Court heard on Tuesday (October 11) that Remell Brown, of Beaufort Road, Gloucester, had initially resorted to loan sharks to pay his debt – but was being charged 1,000 percent interest and got into worse difficulties.

He then began selling drugs as a way out of his troubles and did so well that by the time of his arrest three months later he had bought £15,000 worth of designer clothing.

Prosecutor Michael Hall said Brown was arrested on July 13th this year and found to be in possession of two mobile phones.

The prosecutor said: “Both of these devices contained data to the running of drugs lines over a three-month period. A closer examination revealed that the location of the devices corresponded to that of his vehicle.”

“Additionally CCTV was obtained that showed Brown topping up his phone devices at convenience stores.

“An in depth analysis of the phone data revealed that numerous bulk advertising for Class A drugs had been sent out over the previous three months and in turn a number of calls were received to the line, effectively ordering drugs.

“It appears that this drugs line was operated by Brown, who was directing ‘runners’ to distribute the drugs and collect the cash from the customers.

“A search of Brown’s home address uncovered a range of drug paraphernalia, including a bulking agent for use with cocaine and a Rambo-style knife, but no actual drugs.

“The police believe that Brown benefitted financially from the operation because they found a range of designer clothing, worth around £15,000, along with bank paying in slips to the value of £2,200.

“A specialist drug expert has made an analysis the operation and he has rejected the suggestion that Brown was working for others above him.

“The expert believes that this was a small operation with others working under his direction.

“It is clear that Brown had a clear financial operation at the top of this small enterprise. The only difference between this and a county lines drug operation is the scale of it.”

The court heard that Brown had built up a significant debt due to his gambling addiction. He was a qualified carer and had worked in the sector for four years as well as having responsibilities for the care of his mother and grandfather.

Lloyd Jenkins, defending, said Brown is extremely sorry.

“He has written a letter to the court which states that the last two months of his life were the worst, as being remanded in custody has kept him away from his caring responsibilities towards his mother and grandfather, who sadly passed away during this time and he was unable to attend his funeral.

“Brown is better than this. He lost his way due to his own gambling habit. He took out loans with an APR of over 1,000 percent. Loan sharks like this prey on people who are vulnerable, like Brown.”

Judge Ian Lawrie KC interjected: “I’ve no issue that Brown was in a financial deep hole, but he got there under his own steam.”

Mr Jenkins added: “Brown admits that he felt that by dealing drugs he could get himself out of this financial situation, having been introduced to it by others.

“Sadly this was the wrong decision to make. He isn’t a drug user himself but chose to use this industry to help him pay off his own gambling debt. This was a relatively short period of offending.”

Brown pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, crack cocaine and diamorphine, between April 11 and July 13, 2022.

In sentencing Brown to a prison term of two years and seven months Judge Lawrie said: “No mother deserves to have heaped upon them the added stress of their son who acts as their carer, being sent to prison, but I have no choice but to impose an immediate custodial sentence.

“I fully understand how you became involved in drug dealing. You started gambling and ran up a large debt, you borrowed from loan sharks and when you found yourself in a corner you made the decision to deal in drugs.

“This whole episode is of your own making. I hope you appreciate that dealing in drugs perpetuates the misery suffered by others subjected to this way of life. You don’t have that explanation for getting involved as you don’t take drugs.

“You chose to embark on this way of life for financial gain. You had a good job which gave you opportunities to show off your skills and qualities in this sector, yet this additional trade is the complete opposite of that.

“This shows you can work hard, and you have a skill. You are intelligent and generally a good person. However, you will have to pay a hefty price for your wanton judgement with a substantial sentence because you had an operational role and had runners as part and parcel of a drugs operation.”

Brown was warned that he faces a proceeds of crime hearing later in the year.

The judge ordered the forfeiture and destruction of all drug paraphernalia and mobile phones and to pay a victim surcharge of £190.