A DRUG dealer fell back into his old ways after the coronavirus pandemic played havoc with his painkiller prescription.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Richard Barnes was tempted back into taking heroin after seeing his codeine prescription, which he relies upon to ease his sciatica pain, delayed due to lockdown.

After rediscovering the draw of the drug, the 59-year-old became involved in its supply to fund his addiction, despite being a law-abiding man for the past 19 years.

But his dealing activity was ended following a police stop check, and Barnes is now facing the consequences in jail, as well as facing the prospect of losing his Limetree Avenue home in Stockton Heath.

On October 12 at around 2pm, officers on mobile patrol stopped a grey Peugeot being driven by Barnes down Sandy Lane West in Orford, prosecutor Nardeen Nemat explained.

Police were acting on information received, and after being stopped, they noted how the defendant appeared nervous.

A search of the car revealed a number of wraps of heroin in the driver’s door pocket, with a further quantity in block-form on his person. The drugs had an estimated street value of up to £6,800.

Upon searching his Stockton Heath home, officers recovered £840 in cash. An attempt was made to download the contents of his mobile phone, but only minimal data was recovered.

Ms Nemat also revealed to the court Barnes’ 18 previous convictions, which were mostly for ‘dishonesty’, but included a drug trafficking sentence in 1995.

Following his arrest, the defendant pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to supply during his first appearance before Warrington Magistrates’ Court last month.

In defence of Barnes, Sarah Griffin made reference to a number of significant mitigating factors and explained to the court the ‘extremely sad’ story behind her client’s actions.

Warrington Guardian:

Liverpool Crown Court

She explained his struggles in obtaining his codeine prescription throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, not as an excuse, but as an explanation as to why a man who had remained offence free for 19 years found his way back on the wrong side of the law.

The court heard how Barnes accepted an offer of heroin while drinking in a pub ‘out of desperation to quell his pain’. He subsequently became involved in the drug’s supply to fund his renewed addiction.

Ms Griffin also spoke of the impact custody is having on him. While awaiting sentence, Barnes suffered a mild stroke in prison and has been targeted by bullies, who have twice held blades to his throat.

She added: “The defendant is unbelievably disappointed in himself in relapsing and will lose his home because of it.

“I ask that you allow this man the chance to rehabilitate once and for all and go back to living a law-abiding life.”

Before sentencing, judge Thomas Teague reflected on the sad circumstances that led to Barnes’ imprisonment, but added that the offence was ‘too serious’ for anything other than a jail term.

He said: “No one can look at the story of your life without having sympathy, and yours is a particularly sad case.

“Your good character references show a positive side to your character, and this is clear with the way you turned your life around in the past, despite facing destitution. You deserve credit for that.”

Barnes, appearing in court via video link, was handed a jail sentence of 28 months.

A proceeds of crime application was also made, with a hearing set to go before the court in February.