A PAINTER and decorator caught with thousands of pounds worth of drugs entered the criminal world after falling on hard times, a court heard.
Damian Dorobisz was pulled over in a black BMW on Bellevue Road, Southampton.
Police found a blue suitcase in the boot of the car containing a large amount of cannabis, 240 grams of amphetamine, and a quantity of cocaine.
Prosecutor Timothy Dracass said that the total street value of the drugs was between £5,180 and £7,180.
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Officers also seized £4,200 in cash, along with an address book that Dorobisz admitted was connected to drugs supply.
Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, the 42-year-old of Milner Court, Southampton, was charged with three counts of possession with intent to supply drugs, and possessing criminal property, cash.
He pleaded guilty to all charges.
Defending, Richard Tutt said that Dorobisz was a "hardworking man".
However, he had lost his job as a painter and decorator during the Covid pandemic.
The defendant reportedly found work as a cleaner but was unable to support his family on the income.
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Dorobisz described it as a "slow decline", according to Mr Tutt.
He was asked to start driving somebody around, which then extended to him delivering items.
Judge Christopher Parker QC described it as an "unfortunate case".
He told Dorobisz that he "took the unfortunate decision to enter the criminal world in hard times” but gave him credit for being very frank with the police in interviews.
For the offences dating from March this year, he was jailed for two years and nine months and will be released on license at the halfway point.
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