Reader TTS

Three men ran a drug dealing operation out of vulnerable drug users’ houses in Woodhouse, a sentence hearing at Sheffield Crown Court was told. Between July 1 2023 and July 31 2024, Kai

Bean, Tommy Maughan and an unnamed teen sold hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of crack cocaine and heroin across approximately 3,000 transactions. The trio pleaded guilty to supplying a

controlled drug of Class A (heroin) between July 1 2023 and July 31 2024, and supplying a controlled drug of Class A (crack cocaine) in the same period. Mr Maughan, 21, was also being

sentenced for two counts of dangerous driving, an assault on an emergency worker, and criminal damage of a police vehicle. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also

due to be sentenced for one count of actual bodily harm. The Recorder of Sheffield, His Honour Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, heard how the trio took advantage of vulnerable drug addicts, who

were told they were indebted to the trio due to their drug use. Kai Bean, 21, instigated the drug deals, with Mr Maughan and the 17-year-old executing many of them. Prosecutor John Hobley

explained how three phones were used sequentially, with the men dealing drugs out of vulnerable users’ houses and the teen’s Aunt’s address. In total, the trio sold 1.23kg of crack cocaine

and 1.54kg of heroin, worth a street value of £276,930. Mr Maughan also pleaded guilty to two dangerous driving offences, both of which involved speeding away from a marked police car which

had put on its sirens instructing him to stop. The court was told how, in the first instance, he drove over a pavement and grass area and nearly hit a pedestrian. GET ALL YORKSHIRE CRIME AND

COURT STORIES SENT TO YOUR PHONE Get all the latest crime and court stories in Yorkshire news straight to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here. Whether it's breaking news straight

from a crime scene, live updates from big court cases happening in our region or police appeals, you'll get it all. If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time. We also

treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here. On the second occasion, Mr Maughan drove the car into a curb and stopped.

Believing the car immobilised, two officers approached the car. A passenger fled on foot, with PC Culf pursuing, while PC Eustace began to approach the driver’s side of the car. At that

point, Mr Maughan reversed at speed, ramming the police car before getting stuck on a telegraph pole. PC Eustace then opened the driver’s door, but was punched several times in the face by

Mr Maughan. There was a scuffle between the two, before Mr Maughan escaped and was arrested later that day. The 17-year-old boy assaulted Jonathan Oxley after he accused Mr Oxley of stealing

drugs. The teen threatened Mr Oxley the day before the assault, which included Mr Oxley being punched in the head and hit by his crutch, which he uses for mobility. Mr Oxley was able to

flee, but the 17-year-old called him over the phone and promised the violence would end if he returned. But when Mr Oxley came back to his house, the violence continued, leaving Mr Oxley

with a black eye and bruised right forearm. Summarising the case, Judge Richardson said the three men all have endured difficult upbringings: “In each of your cases, in differing ways, you

have all been disadvantaged. In some respects, you have added to that disadvantage by your own conduct, but I cannot ignore your backgrounds. There has been significant dysfunction within

your families, for one reason or another.” Earlier in the hearing, he added: “Children with a dysfunctional upbringing don’t magically turn into functioning adults on their 18th birthday.”

He also warned, however, the drug offending was “exceptionally serious”. He said: “I want to make this very clear to each of you. Sitting as I do in Sheffield crown court, like judges up and

down the country, we see day in day out the effects of people, men and women, young and old, being addicted to Class A drugs. It is the underlying cause of much crime. We see it every day.

“And therefore, those who peddle Class A drugs must be punished. There is no question about that in my judgement. To do as you were doing was adding in a very material way to that

pernicious, evil trade. That is why this is very serious.” Judge Richardson then confirmed he would not make a decision sentence today. The hearing will resume on Friday 25 April at

Sheffield Crown Court. _GET ALL THE LATEST AND BREAKING SOUTH YORKSHIRE COURT NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX BY __SIGNING UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER HERE._ GET ALL YORKSHIRE CRIME AND COURT STORIES

SENT TO YOUR PHONE Get all the latest crime and court stories in Yorkshire news straight to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here. Whether it's breaking news straight from a crime

scene, live updates from big court cases happening in our region or police appeals, you'll get it all. If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time. We also treat members to

special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here.