Hartlepool drug runner Danny Bailey spared jail at Teesside Crown Court in 'exceptional' case

Danny Bailey, 24, was arrested after police spotted him riding an e-bike dangerously in York Road.

When he was eventually stopped in Warren Road at West View, officers found around a dozen deals’ worth of cocaine on him.

A number of Temazepam tablets were also found during a search of his home.

Teesside Crown Court heard Bailey was a “ringer and bringer” operating under the orders of someone higher up the chain.

But unusually, he was not jailed as he had already been given a suspended prison sentence last October for the driving offences committed a year earlier.

Bailey pleaded guilty to possession of class A and class C drugs with intent to supply.

Prosecutor Robert Mochrie told the court: “This is a classic case of a street level dealer.”

Around 160 messages were sent from Bailey’s phone, all relating to the supply of drugs.

Mr Mochrie added: “There were bulk messages saying ‘active,’ ‘deals ring don’t text’ and people sending messages to him asking for drugs to be dropped off.”

Last October Bailey, of Powell Street, Hartlepool, was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for dangerous driving and no insurance.

His barrister Stephen Constantine then said Bailey had “turned his life around” and was studying to be a personal trainer.

At the drugs sentencing on Monday, July 20, Mr Constantine said he was making good progress on the suspended sentence.

He said: “He has cooperated with the authorities who are trying to help him. He hasn’t reoffended.”

The court heard Bailey was sent to a young offenders’ institution in 2022 for wounding and possession of a knife in public.

Judge Graham Robinson imposed an additional two-year prison sentence on him, but suspended it for three years.

He said: “I can’t ignore the fact that this offending is now quite a long time ago and you have stayed out of trouble since.

“Not just exceptionally, but wholly uniquely in my experience, it seems to me justice demands I suspend that sentence as well.

“You have escaped prison by the narrowest margin. I’ve never passed a suspended sentence on a class A drug dealer before.

“I doubt I will again. Don’t throw away this chance.”