Chase McDowell, aged 28, from Northfield was slammed for using his family home where his children lived to supply drugs
Chase McDowell
A cannabis dealer was left stunned at being sent to prison prompting him to look to his mum for support in court.
Chase McDowell was caught with more than £2,000 worth of cannabis at his home in Barltey Green in 2023.
The 28-year-old dad was remanded in custody for more than four months on more serious charges which were ultimately dropped.
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His barrister argued for a suspended sentence at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, May 22, arguing he had a realistic prospect of rehabilation.
But Judge Peter Cooke disagreed, pointing to his history of offending as well as ‘disregarding’ of court orders.
McDowell, now of Bidford Road, Northfield, had admitted possession with intent to supply cannabis and breaching a suspended sentence for burglary.
He appeared bemused at being told he was being sentenced to 14 months.
McDowell said: “How long have I got?
“I have always complied with probation orders I’ve never breached a probation order.
Turning to the public gallery he added ‘Mum am I lying?’ before being led down to the cells.
Police attended his former home in Barley Green on October 10, 2023 and found 565 grams of cannabis, as well as scales and dealer bags.
Texts on his phone also indicated he had been dealing on it for at least six days.
In other messages McDowell was looking to buy large amounts of cannabis to sell on.
The cannabis seized was valued at around £2,400.
Designer clothes and shoes were also found, said prosecutor Andrew Wilkins who told the court: “It’s standard street dealing. Clearly substantial profits were being made.
“He’s buying large amounts from people further up the chain and selling to users further down the chain. It’s fairly routine.”
Jeremy Hayes, defending, submitted that McDowell was mainly supplying cannabis to his ‘family and friends’.
He described him as a ‘low level drug dealer’ and argued the breach of the suspended sentence was ‘totally, totally out of character’.
Finally, Mr Hayes said McDowell was a ‘worker’ who had a ‘realistic prospect of rehabiliation’.
But Judge Cooke retorted: “Mr Hayes is famous for his colourful glasses.
“He may have rose tinted spectacles in that submission.”
He then reeled off McDowell’s criminal record including possessing mephedrone, cannabis, cocaine, driving offences, assaulting a police officer and burglary.
He received a four-month suspended sentence in 2022 for the latter offence.
Judge Cooke said: “The principle requirement of that was to stay out of trouble. You didn’t.
“You went on to be running from home your own little drug operation.
“It doesn’t give me any reason at all to regard you as a likely prospect for rehabilitation.
“You are somebody, albeit at a low level, pretty entrenched in a criminal lifestyle and disregarding court orders.
“You do not have previous instances of drug supply offences.
“But I also take particular note of the fact this operation was run from your residential address in Bartley Green which was the home of your children.
“That is a significant aggravating feature. It undoubtedly calls for an immediate custodial sentence.”
McDowell was told he will serve up to 40 per cent of the sentence in custody.
The the four-or-so months he served on remand will count towards it as well as any qualifying electronically tagged curfew days.