Drug dealer jailed for 12 years

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A man caught in 2005 with one of Northern Ireland's biggest ever drug hauls has been jailed for 12 years.

Stephen Anthony Courtney, 29, was only out of jail six months after serving a five-year term for drug dealing. He has nine previous drug convictions.

Originally from west Belfast, Courtney lived at Ainsworth Court, Manchester.

He admitted possessing with intent to supply 5.1kg of cocaine, 49kg of speed and 150kg of cannabis resin, found at locations in Belfast and County Antrim.

The cocaine was initially discovered hidden in a hedge when armed police raided a house in Kinsdale Park, Dundonald.

Keys found in the house led police to other premises at Mallusk, on the outskirts of Belfast; on the Seven Mile Straight, between Antrim and Belfast; and at Ballyclare.

He has had ample opportunity to mend his ways in the past Mr Justice Hart Mr Justice Hart said while it was accepted that larger quantities of these drugs had been found separately in the past, "this was the largest seizure of all three drugs at the same time".

He rejected mitigating pleas that he was a vulnerable individual who was anxious to change his ways.

"Courtney's criminal record shows that within months from release from prison he became re-involved in drug dealing on a major scale," he said.

"He has had ample opportunity to mend his ways in the past and by his professions of a desire to change, count for little in the light of his record," the judge said.

He was arrested at a house in Dundonald on 11 August, 2005, the day after travelling from Manchester, via Dublin with 41-year-old grandmother Jean Berry of Holcombe Close, Salford.

Berry was convicted of laundering nearly £60,000 found hidden in the back of her car, and was jailed for nine months.