'Significant' dealer caught on Norwich streets after chase

Junayd Mason, 20, was arrested after being pursued by police along Shorncliffe Avenue in the city.

Shorncliffe Avenue, Norwich (Image: Google)Norwich Crown Court heard when officers caught up with him he was found to be in possession of a bag of white powder as well as mobile phones and £860 in cash.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Danielle O'Donovan, prosecuting, said found on Mason's phones were "messages related to the supply of class A drugs".

One of the messages found on a phone following the stop on January 10 this year included that he was going to "reload a runner".

Miss O'Donovan said the messages, which also referred to him having a "soldier" or a drugs runner, suggested Mason was "reasonably high up the chain" and had a "significant role".

Mason, from London, appeared at court for sentence having previously admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine.

Junayd Mason (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)He also admitted being in possession of criminal property, namely £860.

Oliver Haswell, mitigating, said Mason was "ripe for being exploited" and had been so by "older, criminally savvy individuals".

He said he had been "in debt to these criminal masterminds" and was a "victim of exploitation".

Mr Haswell added he was still a very, young man who had shown "insight" into his offending.

The barrister insisted Mason, who was from a "decent" family, was "remorseful" and recognised what he had done was wrong but "wanted to make a change".

In imposing a 40-month prison sentence Recorder John Brooke-Smith said drugs have "tragic and dangerous consequences on vulnerable people in our community".

However, Recorder Brooke-Smith accepted that Mason had been "exploited" in terms of the offences he had committed and was "very vulnerable" to that.