A man caught selling drugs to an undercover policeman in Camp Road, St Albans has been given a suspended sentence.
Donal Kelliher, 48, was caught in a sting operation by the police who had officers posing as buyers to buy drugs from street dealers.
St Albans crown court heard today (Fri) the police had a special “drugline” number to ring and it was the way they snared Kelliher on August 2 2016.
Today he appeared at the court to plead guilty to supplying a wrap of crack cocaine.
The court was told howduring the summer of 2016 a four month police operation was underway to target street dealers in St Albans.
The drugline number that the police had obtained allowed officers to ring and arrange to buy drugs.
Recorder David Bridge was told it was after the number had been contacted that Kelliher was instructed to meet the buyer in Camp Road.
He duly turned up unaware that the person buying the wrap was an undercover officer.
Kelliher of Charrington Place, St Albans was duly identified and five days later he was arrested.
Today his barrister Andel Singh told the court his client had been intimidated by those above him in the drug supply chain to act as a street dealer.
The court was told Kelliher himself had experienced drug and alcohol problems in the past.
He had undergone a kidney transplant in 2004 and was on medication.
Recorder Bridge said although the offence crossed the “custody threshold” he was prepared in Kelliher’s case to suspend the sentence.
He sentenced him to 21 months imprisonment which was suspended for two years.
Kelliher was told he would be subject to a home curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am for the next year.
He was also given a 15 day rehabilitation activity requirement to address his use of cannabis and alcohol.
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