April 29, 2020 11.44 am This story is over 62 months old

Spalding dealer jailed after officer found £3k worth of drugs

He has now been sentenced

Paulo Marques-Pintor has been jailed for three years. Photo: Lincolnshire Police

A drug dealer was caught out after police stopped a car and noticed the smell of cannabis, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

Paulo Marques-Pintor was a passenger in the vehicle which was stopped in Spalding in July 2018 and was seen to throw a joint out of the car window.

Katya Saudek, prosecuting, told the court: “The officer notice the vehicle smelled strongly of cannabis.

“He then saw a bag which contained cannabis deals and another of the occupants of the vehicle was seen to start texting.”

As a result Marques-Pintor was detained and his home address was subsequently searched resulting in the discovery of a stash of drugs including cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamine.

Miss Saudek said the drugs had a street value of around £3,000. Officers also found £1,890 cash.

Marques-Pintor was later interviewed and admitted to dealing in drugs for around a year.

Paulo Marques-Pintor, 21, of Pennygate, Spalding, admitted four charges of possession of drugs with intent to supply on July 23, 2018. He also admitted possession of criminal property.

He was jailed for three years.

Judge John Pini QC, passing sentence, told him: “This was a thriving business earning you £300 a week profit. You were dealing drugs for a year. There has to be a custodial sentence.”

Neil Sands, in mitigation, said that the defendant was naive and did not appreciate the seriousness of what he was doing and how much trouble he was going to get into.

“He told the police he had done some drug dealing but has been clean since. He went out and got himself a job and has kept out of trouble. When he is released from custody hopefully he can get himself back on track.”