A Watford man caged for selling heroin on the streets was lucky to receive only a four-year jail term, a senior judge has ruled.
Marlon Eugene Beckford, 34, was locked up at at Harrow Crown Court in March after jurors convicted him of possessing heroin with intent to supply.
He was cleared of charges of possessing criminal property in relation to designer clothes and a Rolex watch.
Beckford, of Cecil Street, Watford, was prosecuted after police caught him with 24 wraps of heroin.
He was also carrying three mobile phones, had a large amount of cash on him and was in an area notorious for street dealing.
Beckford insisted he had no intention of selling the heroin and that he planned to “give it away” to pals.
However, the trial judge sentenced him on the basis that “he was dealing in heroin on the streets”.
Beckford challenged his sentence in the Appeal Court, claiming it was far too harsh.
But Sir Brian Keith said: “We find that the sentencing judge was entitled to conclude he was intending to sell the heroin for profit as a street dealer.
He added: “Beckford could be said to have been fortunate to receive only a four-year sentence.”
Sir Brian, who was sitting with two other judges, dismissed the appeal.
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