Cocaine dealer apprehended when car he’s passenger in crashes following high-speed collision
Cocaine dealers Ryan Lawrence and Joshua Goodwin careered into the wall of a council building in Stanley, Co Durham, before police uncovered several bags of cocaine
A cocaine dealer reached the end of the road after getting into a high-speed car crash - exclaiming, "I’m not getting spun for this".
Drugs criminal Ryan Lawrence had been a passenger in the car when driver Joshua Goodwin lost control and smashed into a brick wall of a council building in Stanley, Co Durham. The smash caused "extensive damage", a court heard, leaving the driver with a bloodied and injured face.
But cops arriving at the scene upturned 27 bags of cocaine on Lawrence, 32, arresting both men on drugs offences. Lawrence denied possession with intent to supply but was found guilty after trial, while co-accused Goodwin, 23, pled guilty to dangerous driving and intending to deal the class A substance.
Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, told Durham crown court the men had been travelling in the car at "excessive speed" on July 8, 2022, driving over a T-junction and careering into a brick wall. "Joshua Goodwin made a comment at the scene saying, ’I’m not getting spun for this’," Mr Dryden said.
Drug dealer, Ryan Lawrence, was jailed for over three years ( Image: Durham Constabulary)
"He said he was driving for Ryan Lawrence who ’was doing drug deals’. Both defendants were interviewed and made no reply to questions."
Mr Dryden said that 27 bags of cocaine were found on Lawrence after he was searched and that Goodwin played a "lesser role", Chronicle Live reports. Calum McNicholas, defending Lawrence, from Chester-le-Street, said it was "relatively low level and unsophisticated drug dealing" that was carried out to "fund his own addiction".
He said: "He is a man of effectively good character...he has had no experience of prison and is an environment that he’s likely to struggle in. It was because of a significant degree of fear that resulted in the trial being ran."
Christopher Morrison, for Goodwin, said he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and is someone with a "strong work ethic" who works as a labourer. He said: "He doesn’t have any previous involvement in any crime whatsoever. He does acknowledge the complete stupidity of his actions."
Sentencing the pair, Judge Jo Kidd said that Goodwin had drank alcohol and hadn’t even passed a driving test at the time of the crash. She said Goodwin was there to "assist" Lawrence, who was dealing at a "street level". The judge added that messages were found on the phone of Lawrence that were "indicative" of drug dealing.
Lawrence, from Stanley, was jailed for 42 months with Goodwin being handed a 24 month prison sentence, suspended for two years. Goodwin must also complete 30 rehabilitation days, 200 hours unpaid work, and pay £150 costs.
He was also made subject of a six month electronic curfew and banned from driving for 12 months. He will have to sit an extended re-test if he wants his licence back.
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