Bride-to-be avoids jail for aiding fiancé in cocaine ring after announcing pregnancy

Sasha Ellis-Johnson claimed she was helping her partner after he ran up a £2,000 drug debt

A bride-to-be who helped her fiancé run a cocaine ring has avoided prison because she’s pregnant with his child.

Sasha Ellis-Johnson, 22, was a go-between for customers buying cocaine from her drug dealer boyfriend Joe Cooke.

Bride-to-be Sasha Ellis-Johnson and her fiance Joe Cooke ran a cocaine ringCredit: Cavendish

Ellis-Johnson leaving Chester Crown Court todayCredit: Cavendish

 

Cooke was jailed for 28 months todayCredit: Cavendish

Ellis-Johnson broke down in court todayCredit: Cavendish

She broke down and wept at Chester Crown Court after pleading guilty to to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

But she avoided jail after being handed a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years.

She told the court she and Cooke are expecting another baby next May after she discovered she was pregnant just weeks before they were due to be sentenced.

And passing sentence, Judge Michael Leeming decided against a prison because "an immediate custodial sentence may result in the loss of your home".

Cooke, 21, claimed he had accumulated a £2,000 drug debt after using cocaine as a "coping mechanism" when then pregnant Sasha lost their child.

He then started peddling drugs to friend to pay off the debt.

Over a six-month period, Ellis-Johnson acted as a go-between, fielding messages which read: "Can we pick up another bag? Got cash. We will get a taxi there and back if Joe wants to sell for us."

Another said: ’’Hey love is your bf about cause we want a bag and got cash’ to which she replied ’ring thís number or text it... he’s going to ring you now.’"

But cops busted the couple as they were getting into a taxi near their home in Crewe, Cheshire, at around 4.45pm on June 20 earlier this year. 

During a subsequent search of their home, officers found cocaine ready for delivery, scales, snap bags and cash in a drawer in their bedroom.

Further drugs were also found stashed in Cooke’s underpants.

Text messages on Cooke’s phone also showed him using threats to secure payment.

The court heard 24 wraps of cocaine in 0.5 gram and 1.75 gram weights were seized with a value of up to £1,380 and £1,315 in cash was found.

In a statement, Ellis-Johnson said: "At the time of the offending I was aware Joe had a cocaine habit and had accumulated a drug debt. As a result he was selling drugs to pay off his drug debt. 

"I was never directly involved in the supply of drugs but accept that I facilitated in the supply of drugs by providing contact details of my partner and passing contact details on to him.

"I was contacted by friends who wanted to buy cocaine and I passed Joe’s contact details on to them.

"In relation to the message exchanges, this was a time when Joe used my phone.

"I accept that I facilitated the drug exchange at that time with the messages from my mobile phone. I was never involved with supplying users directly but facilitated the exchange."

Adam Watkins, defending, also said she had "got involved through loyalty rather than for any financial benefit to herself".

He added that she had been "immature and naive".

Passing sentence, In sentencing Judge Michael Leeming told Ellis-Johnson: "You present a low risk of reoffending or serious reoffending and are a low risk to the public.

"The mitigating factors are your personal mitigation, the fact that you are currently pregnant and an immediate custodial sentence may result in the loss of your home.’"

However, her partner Cooke was today jailed for 28 months.

He earlier admitted possessing with intent to supply and acquiring criminal property.

Ellis-Johnson avoided jail, but her fiance didn’tCredit: Cavendish

Ellis-Johnson "acted out of loyalty" and was "naive", the court heardCredit: Cavendish

Emma Davis