A YOUNG offender who “fell into the clutches” of a drug dealing gang has been spared prison in a bid to help his efforts to turn his life around.

Nathan Seninde, 20, was found to have a phone linked to a County Lines drug operation when he was arrested in a caravan in Colchester.

He had denied being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine, but was convicted following a trial last month.

Ipswich Crown Court heard he was found in the caravan at Hythe Quay alongside another man.

The pair were found with 0.2g of heroin with a purity of 52 per cent and 0.28g of cocaine.

Seninde was also found with £555 of cash and a black mobile phone containing texts concerning the supply of drugs.

Matthew Kirk, mitigating, said Senide was a young man with “considerable vulnerabilities”.

He said: “His intelligence is limited, his background unfortunate.

“His presentation has been characteristic of the same difficulties he has faced through his life.”

Mr Kirk said a pre-sentence report showed Seninde, of Guildford, had fallen “into the clutches” of a County Lines operation and had incurred a debt.

He added since his arrest in 2019 he had made considerable efforts to turn his life around, including completing a BTEC qualification to get into work.

Recorder Jeremy Benson QC said: “You were in possession of cash that was clearly the proceeds of drug dealing and also some small amounts of class A drugs were found.

“At the time of these events you were just 18 years of age, you were either in care or being supported by local authorities and as a result of all things I’ve read about you it seems to me you were a vulnerable young man.

“It is also right I take into account these events now taken place some 22 months ago and you have continued to make some progress in sorting your life out.”

Seninde was sentenced to 21 months in a young offender’s institution, suspended for two years.

He must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

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