Dean Tams of New Milton handed four-year prison sentence at Southampton Crown Court for drug dealing

A drug dealer from New Milton wept as he was handed a four-year prison sentence after being caught by police twice in six months.

Dean Tams (33), of Andrew Lane, was first stopped by officers on 20th May 2021 as he drove a van in the town which had a “strong smell of cannabis”.

Prosecutor Martin Booth told Southampton Crown Court how a search of the van revealed two mobile phones and £865 in cash, which Tams claimed was a recent benefits payment.

While the defendant was initially “fairly calm”, Mr Booth said he became “agitated and hostile” when police asked to conduct a drugs wipe, before he was taken to the floor and arrested on suspicion of dealing cannabis.

When he was placed in a police van, he admitted to officers he had packets of cannabis down his trousers, which Mr Booth said were worth around £50.

In interview, Tams said officers had “a vendetta” against him and claimed the drugs were for his personal use.

One of the mobiles – described as a “burner phone” – was examined by a drugs expert who said it contained “marketing messages” inviting people to buy cannabis from Tams in New Milton.

The defendant was released on bail while officers continued their investigation, Mr Booth explained, but on 16th November Tams was stopped by officers as he travelled in a BMW.

Mr Booth said the car attracted the attention of the police as it drove slowly through the town with a defective headlight, and on closer inspection officers noticed it had a strong smell of cannabis.

The car was searched, and officers found two mobile phones belonging to Tams, who said he had bought them after his others were seized.

The court heard that on arrival at the police station, Tams confirmed he had cannabis hidden in his underwear, as well as a large clear bag containing 20 smaller bags filled with a white powder, suspected to be cocaine.

Tams denied in interview he was involved in drug dealing, but messages on his phones indicated he was selling both cannabis and cocaine on the streets, Mr Booth added.

However, he said Tams’ refusal to give his address to officers meant no search of his home was ever carried out. Analysis of the 20 bags he had concealed on him were each found to contain 0.4 grams of cocaine, valued at around £800 in total. Mr Booth added the defendant also was in possession of one small bag of cannabis worth about £30.

The court heard Tams’ bank accounts revealed “a large number of third party deposits” between November 2000 and November 2021 which totalled just over £12,000, for which Tams could give no explanation. Mr Booth said this was “consistent with someone who has been dealing drugs for some time”.

Tams has previous convictions for possession with intent to supply class B drugs, burglary and drug driving. He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to three counts of possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs.

Defending, Lucy Taylor said: “He originally got into dealing drugs as he was himself a heavy user – it began with drug debts and escalated from there. His most significant mitigation is what he has done in the four years since his arrest; he has remained out of trouble and obtained stable accommodation, which was lacking at the time of the offences, causing him to lead a chaotic lifestyle.”

Tams, who she said suffers with PTSD, was now clean of drugs, she added.

He had the chance of employment if he was not jailed, she explained, and was rebuilding a relationship with his son. She said the case had been “a shake-up” for him, adding: “He is in a much better position and is a more responsible man. The picture is markedly different, solely due to his determination and hard work.

“He accepts dealing drugs was wrong and detrimental to those who bought drugs from him.”

She also urged Judge Christopher Parker KC to impose a suspended sentence. But the judge dismissed this, telling Tams: “You are the author of your own troubles. There has to be a custodial sentence due to the nature and seriousness of the offences, albeit they occurred some time ago.

“You were plainly going about your business dealing cannabis. You were arrested and granted bail, and just that in itself should have been a tremendous warning shot across your bows, but you then upped the level of your offending and were found in possession of cocaine.

“These courts every single day of every single week see people’s lives ruined by drugs. There is no escaping the fact that drugs cause utter misery – and now it is affecting you too.”

Commenting on his previous convictions for dealing, he added: “You still didn’t learn, and then you were caught driving under the influence. You were taking a risk with other people’s lives and safety, as well as your own.”

He told Tams he had carefully read letters of support from his family who “want him to do better” and said his conduct since was to his credit, but he added his PTSD diagnosis “did not excuse your selling drugs to vulnerable people”.