February 16, 2022 2.23 pm This story is over 24 months old

Lincoln flat drug dealer avoids jail

He was given a suspended sentence

A Nottingham man was caught with Class A drugs valued at nearly £9,000 and a machete after he was “moved” to a Lincoln flat to pay off a debt.

Police recovered 53 grams of crack-cocaine and 33 grams of heroin from a room being used by street dealer Arturs Vilumovs, 22, in Portland Street, Lincoln.

A small amount of cannabis was also seized and police found a machete among clothing hidden under a bed, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

Vilumovs, of Newark Crescent, Nottingham, admitted two charges of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply and possessing cannabis following the raid on March 18, 2020.

Samuel Lowne, prosecuting, said a set of scales and a list of names in a diary was also recovered from the property.

Mr Lowne told the court a drugs expert was asked to value the drugs and examine the diary entries.

The maximum value of the crack-cocaine and heroin was estimated at £8,720.

The purity of the crack-cocaine varied between 86% and 88%, which was high, Mr Lowne explained.

Mr Lowne added: “The content of the diary could be indicative of drugs supply.”

The value of the cannabis was estimated at £210 and consistent with personal use.

Vilumovs stayed silent during police interview but admitted he did recognise one key seized from Portland Street as being from his address in Nottingham and said he would be homeless without it.

Mr Lowne said the prosecution case was that Vilumovs was involved in street dealing but played a lesser role.

“It is aggravated by the fact that he has previous convictions for drugs offences, although this is an escalation,” Mr Lowne told the court.

“There was also the presence of a weapon, although it was not charged separately.”

Vilumovs, who represented himself in court, informed the probation service he had been offered the chance to work off a £2,000 debt and had been told it would be “lots of fun.”

But in a letter to the sentencing judge Vilumovs explained he was taken to two different properties in Lincoln after getting into trouble and then robbed by the people he owed money to.

Vilumovs urged Judge Simon Hirst not to pass a prison sentence, telling him: “I am very sorry for what I did. I am not a criminal. I hated the life I was put into.

“I am a hard working man. I look after my mum who is disabled.

“Due to COVID it is almost two years since the offence.”

Passing sentence Judge Hirst accepted Vilumovs had stayed out of trouble for nearly two years and had a genuine prospect of rehabilitation.

“You are a hard working man, and have good mitigation, particularly being the carer for your mother,” Judge Hirst said.

“But the only reason you are not going to prison is because the prosecution accept the contents of your letter.”

Vilumovs was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years.

He must also complete 25 rehabilitation days and 200 hours of community punishment.