A GRIMSBY insurance worker who used his office as a base from which to deal cocaine has been jailed for 18 months.
Grimsby Crown Court heard 25-year-old Robert Wishart, of Bulwick Avenue, admitted using Swinton Insurance offices to supply class A drugs from December 2011 to May 2012.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, revealed Wishart had been dealing drugs for Waltham Road man Aaron Cook, 24, who was himself jailed for three years in January after admitting possession with intent to supply cocaine.
He said Wishart's involvement came to light in May last year, when Cook was found to be in possession of bags of white powder and cash after being stopped by police.
He said: "Also recovered was a mobile phone and from that police derived a large amount of messages received and sent from that phone. They were able to identify this defendant and the recipient of a large number of messages and responding to them.
"There was evidence he was working for Swinton Insurance and using this as his base from which to supply and arranged for people who wished to purchase drugs to come to the office and supply them from there.
"From the texts between the two the quantities being sold could be up to three ounces, worth several hundred pounds, per day."
Andrew Bailey, mitigating, said drugs had ruined Wishart's life and that he had stopped working as Mr Cook's "runner" of his own volition in May 2012.
He said: "This is a man with a good work record and is of good character.
"He began to use cocaine when his marriage went sour in 2011.
"He was able to buy the drugs himself and he was spending £100 a weekend on cocaine. This was before his drug habit overtook him.
"Drugs have ruined his life and he started working for his supplier.
"He was giving him drugs for free and was paid the odd bit of cash."
Mr Bailey added Wishart had taken steps himself to make sure this will not happen again and that he had been drug free for four months.
Recorder Robin Mairs said: "Your pre-sentence report makes for very sad reading.
"You are still a young man capable of hard work and you led a good life.
"I accept you will not be back at this court and have taken steps to rid yourself of your drug addiction, but those who deal class A drugs for their financial reward have to go to prison."
A spokesman for Swinton Insurance said: "Swinton Insurance has co-operated fully with the police throughout this enquiry and we confirm the person in question is no longer an employee."
