Nation's 'oldest' drug dealer avoids jail term

Martin Slack

A MAN said to be Britain’s oldest drug dealer narrowly escaped a prison sentence after a court heard that police found heroin at his old person’s bungalow for a second time.

Bernard Booth, 79, had been given a suspended sentence in December 2008 for dealing in heroin, but instead of jailing him at the latest hearing yesterday, a judge said he should be electronically tagged.

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The pensioner told police who arrested him late last year that he bought the Class A drug for himself because he wanted to commit suicide and be with his wife who died three years ago.

Doncaster Crown Court heard how Booth, who pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and the breach of his 51-week jail sentence, was caught red handed by police.

Officers swooped on his sheltered accommodation in Skellow, Doncaster, on October 8 last year after receiving a tip-off from neighbours concerned about his continued drug use.

Carl Fitch, prosecuting, said: “He was just about to put whatever it was in his pocket into his mouth when officers pounced on him and managed to pull it from him. Mr Booth attempted to kick out at the officers.”

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Mr Fitch said the ex-miner, who had been sitting in an armchair when officers arrived, was found in possession of seven wraps of heroin in cling film, weighing 1.35g. The court was told the drugs had a street value of 54.

The barrister said that just over 10 months earlier, on December 1, 2008, Booth had appeared before the same court and admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply and possession of cannabis.

Mr Fitch said: “He said he had been asked to supply drugs in the area and he received 30 a week for doing that. He had made several hundred pounds, which he used to supplement his pension.”

The court heard how Booth was first caught by police selling heroin to women outside a working men’s club near his home in May 2008 to help fund what he had called “everyday luxuries”.

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Booth, who suffers from severe emphysema and struggled into the dock yesterday, was said to have been “preyed on” by others but was found with bags of heroin and cannabis, scales, tin foil and clingfilm in 2008.

After that first offence, Booth was given the sentence of 51 weeks suspended for two years and a curfew order of three months, preventing him from leaving his home between 7pm and 6am.

Andrew Wynne, mitigating, told the court how the dealer had gone back to buying heroin because he wanted to use it to end his life, which had been left “empty” following the deaths of his wife of 25 years and several of his friends.

Mr Wynne said: “In many ways this is a sad case of an elderly man who has been saying for some time that life has nothing left for him and he wishes to be with his partner.

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“Approximately four years ago he lost his close friend. A year later, three years ago, his partner died. A year later his other close friend died, followed by her husband who hanged himself.

“As recently as last week, on February 7, Mr Booth was admitted to Doncaster Royal Infirmary having taken over 40 aspirins. He was kept there until 9pm on Wednesday of last week, when he was discharged.

“This is a man who has made several attempts to end his own life.”

Sentencing frail Booth, who appeared in court in a blue jacket and black trousers, and leaning on a walking stick for support, Judge Patrick Robertshaw ordered that as well as being tagged, he would also pay a 150 fine for the offence.

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The judge said he had followed the recommendations of a probation officer who had said Booth should not be sent to prison and added: “You can pay the fine at a rate of 5 a week and we must receive that in 28 days time.

“For the breach of your suspended sentence I’m going to add to that order a further curfew requirement of four months, between 7am and 6pm. You know perfectly well what the consequences will be of breaching the curfew requirement.”

Judge Robertshaw also ordered that the drugs seized from Booth should be destroyed. The pensioner made no comment as he left court.

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