Suspended Sentence For Colour-Coded Cocaine-Dealing Teen

Inner London Crown Court

A teenage first-time offender caught drug-dealing has avoided being locked-up after receiving a suspended sentence.

Harry Edward Collett, 19, of William Foster Lane, Welling, south-east London had colour-coded wraps of the drug to indicate quantity and price.

His first court appearance was an emotionally-charged ordeal for the teen and his family, with relatives in tears as the gravity of the offence hit home.

Collett initially appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court, where he pleaded guilty to possessing a quantity of cocaine, with intent to supply, on January 6.

The court decided its maximum sentencing powers – six months custody – were insufficient and he was committed to Inner London Crown Court.

There, Collett received two years custody, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete 180 hours community service and 36 hours with the probation service and pay a £100 victim surcharge.

The court heard police on patrol in Bexley stopped a vehicle Collett was travelling in.

He appeared nervous to the officers when questioned and was searched.

Police found a bag stuffed down his trousers, which contained fifty to seventy wraps of the class A drug.

The paper wraps were in two different colours, white indicated £20 and pink £40.