Banned driver jailed after being found with drugs and weapons

A drug dealer banned from driving has been jailed after officers spotted him twice flouting his ban and then found drugs and weapons at his home.

It was on Wednesday 26 January 2022, when two of our officers spotted Mitchell Henderson behind the wheel of a silver Vauxhall Vectra as it pulled out of Great Northern Close in Ilkeston. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Erewash Square but didn’t have insurance and was seized. During a search of the car, officers found bags of cannabis along with two knives, those items had the 21-year-old’s fingerprints on.

Then, on Tuesday 8 March 2022, officers went to Henderson’s home in Walnut close to arrest him for several drugs and traffic offences and, while we were at his home, quantities of cannabis and cocaine were found in his bedroom, again with his fingerprints on them.

Finally, on Friday 18 November 2022, Henderson was suspected of driving an Audi A4, which failed to stop for officers. The car was later found abandoned but, when we arrived at an address in Ilkeston, Henderson turned up in a taxi, which was traced to have been called to the site where the Audi had been found. Henderson was searched and found to have quantities of cocaine and cannabis on him along with messages on a mobile phone showing signs of drug dealing.

The Audi A4 was later searched with a hammer and dealer bags located inside along with a bottle which had Henderson’s DNA on it.

Appearing at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on Monday 23 January, Henderson was given a 12-week jail sentenced, suspended for 12 months, banned from driving for a further 18 months, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work after admitting driving while disqualified, failing to stop for police, and driving without insurance.

The 21-year-old then appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday 25 May where he admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, driving while disqualified, and possession of a bladed article and was sent to prison for three years.

PC Anthony Scheck, from Ilkeston’s Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “After spotting Henderson twice driving despite being banned it became clear to us that he believed the rules simply didn’t apply to him and he could continue to go about dealing drugs in Ilkeston.

“However, that is certainly not the case and now he has time behind bars to think about the consequences of his actions and what could happen next time if he continues with his criminal behaviour upon his release.

“We take the issue of drug dealing incredibly seriously and this sentence goes to show how much the law is prepared to punish those who chose to supply the illegal and harmful substances.

“We will find out who you are, we will build a case against you, and you will be put in front of a judge to be dealt with, the message is simple and clear, Ilkeston is not a place to deal drugs and if you chose to do so here, you will be arrested and brought to justice.”