Daniel King claims he agreed to deal heroin and crack cocaine for one week only to clear a debt after his release from prison
Daniel King, of Shrewton Road in Belle Vale, aged 33(Image: Merseyside Police)
A man who mowed down and killed a woman on a stolen scrambler bike has been jailed again. Daniel King was previously put behind bars for causing the death of 26-year-old Rebecca Cooke by dangerous driving back in June 2021.
After being released from this sentence on licence, he then apparently agreed to deals drugs for one week only in order to clear a debt. He now says that this was the “worst decision he has ever made”.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon that police stopped a car being driven by co-defendant James McGlade on Renshaw Street in Liverpool city centre on June 3 this year, with King having been the front seat passenger. Officers recovered a small bag of cannabis resin, £120 in cash and a Nokia mobile phone from the latter.
Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, described how this device was found to have sent an outgoing message reading “on at 6” to nine contacts earlier the same day, with billing data having found that this “graft phone was in its infancy, only two days old”. Having been arrested, King was subsequently found to have a number of wraps of heroin and crack cocaine, worth a combined total of between £190 and £250, hidden between his buttocks during a strip search.
Mr Blasbery added: “Analysis showed that this vehicle co-located with the drugs line consistently across the three days in question, with a total of 44 activities of co-location occurring. The prosecution’s case is that the defendants are together in a variety of locations at these times. Mr McGee is the driver who transports Mr King to various locations to carry out drug dealing activity.”
King, of Shrewton Road in Belle Vale, remains banned from the roads, with the now 33-year-old having been handed eight years and three months in 2021 for causing Ms Cooke’s death by dangerous driving. The ECHO previously reported that he had been seen speeding through Childwall and Huyton on a KTM530 bike before mowing down his victim when he swerved onto a pavement in an attempt to avoid a police car.
Ms Cooke was thrown into a wall as a result and left with catastrophic injuries, from which she later died in hospital. Having been under the influence of cannabis and already disqualified from driving at the time, King subsequently told police: “I swear officer, I didn’t mean to hit anyone. I don’t care what happens to me as long as she’s ok.”
Daniel King, of Shrewton Road in Belle Vale, aged 33(Image: Merseyside Police)
With King having a total of 17 previous convictions for 34 offences, his barrister Simran Garcha said on Thursday: “He instructs me that he became involved in this offending because he owed an associate some money. He agreed to deal drugs for one week. He describes that as the worst decision he has ever made.
“He has now been recalled on licence from a previous sentence. He has been recalled until September 2029. His record is woeful, but he has nothing similar on his record.
“He was doing well on licence. He was engaging with education, training and employment opportunities. He was described as proactively seeking opportunities to attend courses to obtain employment in areas such as the railways and plumbing.
“He was motivated to get back into work to gain some stability in his life. He was residing with his girlfriend, who he remains in a relationship with. He knows that, by reason of his own foolishness, his incarceration will have a profound impact on her and their relationship.
“He tells me that he has been feeling low mood and depression at being back in custody. He instructs me that he is going to apply himself fully in custody and take upon him any opportunities that come his way, as far as education and employment are concerned.”
McGlade, of Rosefield Road in Woolton, has 12 previous convictions for 21 offences. The 29-year-old was locked up for 70 months for firearms offences in 2021 before being handed a 20-month consecutive term in 2023 for conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine.
James McGlade, of Rosefield Road in Woolton, aged 29(Image: Merseyside Police)
Brendan Carville, defending, told the court on his behalf: “He has been recalled to serve the remainder of the sentence. His earliest release date, at the moment, is September 2028.”
King admitted possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. McGlade pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.
Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, they were jailed for 38 months each. Sentencing, Recorder Anne Price said: “It appears to me that you were both part and parcel of the same enterprise.
“Officers could see that you, Mr King, were trying to hide something down the front of your trousers. Mr McGlade, you tested positive for cannabis, and you were both arrested.
“Mr King, when you were strip searched, officers discovered crack cocaine hidden between your buttocks. The car you were driving, Mr McGlade, had been moving with the graft phone in the three days that it had been in use.
“I do bear in mind that the length of your involvement was relatively limited. However, there are factors increasing seriousness; the fact that I am dealing with you for two different types of drugs, and you have significant previous convictions, McGlade, in your case in particular, a relatively recent conviction for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
“The mitigation is limited. I am aware, Mr King, that you were making some progress on your licence. To a degree, that has been cancelled out by your offending. I am going to treat both of you the same on this occasion. You both have poor records, and you were both on licence at the time.”