Heroin and crack cocaine drug-dealing couple jailed

A drug-dealing couple from Warrington, who were spared jail in November with a suspended prison sentence, were caught back at it less than three months later.

And this time Jonathan Gibbons and Alice Chatten have each been put behind bars for a total of four-and-a-half years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today (Tue) that on November 4 last year a judge gave them each a two year suspended jail term of two years after they admitted heroin and crack cocaine dealing charges.
“Two and a half months later they were again working as a team supplying drugs. Officers were patrolling in the Orford area and about 11.30 am Chatten was seen carrying out a hand to hand exchange, drug dealing,” said Chris Taylor, prosecuting.
Officers could not stop her at the time and she was seen to enter her home in Alder Lane. Gibbons was seen leaving the property and was detained and searched. He was found with wraps of brown and white powder and was arrested.
Officers went into the house and found Chatten, who immediately made disclosures and a bagging station was found in her bedroom. As well as scales and bags there was £1,060 cash, said Mr Taylor.
“In interview Gibbons said he was £1000 in debt and dealt on behalf of the George county line to pay off this debt. He said he was given £1,500 worth of crack cocaine and heroin .The £1,060 was the proceeds from the weekend.”
Chatten, who had been caught with drug wraps in her knickers when arrested last year for the earlier offences, made no comment in interview, said Mr Taylor.
The drugs recovered on Gibbons were worth a total of £470 on the streets, he added.

Paul Wood, defending, said that 36-year-old Gibbons, “has been trying to deal with his underlying issues. Mental health treatment has not started because of the waiting list.”
He had been leading a chaotic lifestyle and has poor mental health. He had been using heroin and crack cocaine for five years.
Chatten’s barrister, Carmel Wilde said, “It is a real shame to see her back in the same position.She feels she has let everyone down.”
She lives with her 22-year-old son and fears he will become homeless as she will lose her tenancy. “She feels the biggest punishment is on others.”
She has been drug free previously and since her remand is drug free again. She had relapsed after her sentence in November and built up a debt which led to the offending behaviour.
She suffers from PTSD after being kidnapped eight year ago, added Miss Wilde.

Johnson, of Jurby Court, Padgate and Chatten, 38, pleaded guilty to possessing Class A drugs with intent and possessing criminal property.
Jailing them Judge Ian Harris said that they had built up a debt because of their previous arrest when drugs were seized by police.
He said that Chatten was not as deeply involved at Gibbons but they were working closely together on the day of their arrest.
He sentenced them both to three years for the offences and activated 18 months of the suspended sentence to run consecutively.