A JUDGE told a man who was caught dealing soon after his release from prison that he is ‘not good at this’, as he jailed him again.

Ashley Rathbone, formerly from Padgate, was caught with around £1,000 of cocaine, ketamine and MDMA in April last year.

He claimed that on his release from prison, he was ‘put under pressure’ to deal due to the debts he owed.

Rathbone, 27, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court last Tuesday after pleading guilty to two counts of attempting to supply class A drugs and one count of attempting to supply class B drugs.

Prosecuting, Simon Duncan told the court that Rathbone was the passenger in a car that officers stopped on Langdale Road, St Helens.

As they approached the car, they noticed the passenger place what looked like a wrap in the console.

Rathbone, a long term drug user, had a Nike shoulder bag and when searched by officers, they found £400 cash, a knuckle duster, cocaine wraps, over 100 MDMA tablets and ketamine.

Mr Duncan explained that this was a ‘street dealing enterprise’ for financial gain.

The court heard how these offences were committed while Rathbone was on licence for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, namely heroin, in March 2020.

Liverpool Crown Court

Liverpool Crown Court

Rathbone has 25 convictions for 40 offences.

Defending, William Staunton said: “It is a sad scenario that is often repeated on release from custody for drug-related offences.”

He explained that on Rathbone’s release, he was approached by people he owed £1,200 to and was told he had to ‘work it off’.

Mr Williams said that Rathbone, who was exposed to class A drugs from a young age, is confident that this time he won’t come out of jail to ‘these kind of pressures’.

“His life has been governed by drug addictions,” Mr Staunton said.

The court also heard how Rathbone now ‘feels so much better’ and has a ‘simple dream’ – to settle down and find a partner.

Concluding, recorder Ciaran Rankin said: “You started selling almost as soon as you were released from your previous prison sentence.

“Putting it bluntly Mr Rathbone, you are not good at this.

“You keep getting caught.”

Judge Rankin said that by not learning from his previous offences, this only means the sentences will increase.

Rathbone was handed four years behind bars.