Ex-soldier from Scarborough sentenced for supplying amphetamine - police found half a kilo at his home

Stephen Pike, 55, was arrested after police raided his flat in Albemarle Crescent and roused him from his bed.

They found a large stash of drugs and a stun gun, York Crown Court heard.

Pike, who served in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, was charged with possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply, possessing a Taser gun and simple cannabis possession.

He ultimately admitted all the offences and appeared for sentence on April 17.

Prosecutor David Ward said that Pike was asleep when police swooped on his home at 8am on June 6, 2022.

As they searched the flat, they found a large, half-kilo bag of amphetamine on an armchair in the living room, which Pike claimed was his “medicine”.

They found further foil bags of amphetamine, a small bag of cannabis, “several quantities of pills” and a hand-held Taser gun.

Mr Ward said that according to a weapons expert, the Taser was sufficiently charged so as to be functioning and was directly connected to the drug-dealing enterprise.

Officers also seized Pike’s mobile phone which was “constantly” ringing and received up to 20 calls while police were at the flat.

Despite Pike refusing to disclose the PIN code to his mobile, police found drug-dealing messages on the device.

Officers also discovered a curved sword but ultimately decided that it was ornamental and gave it back to the ex-soldier.

Pike, now of Wreyfield Drive, Scarborough, had 17 previous convictions for 34 offences dating back nearly 30 years.

His rap sheet included previous convictions for supplying amphetamine and producing Class B drugs, as well serious violence.

Defence barrister Rhianydd Clement claimed that Pike was essentially dealing to fund his own amphetamine habit, but the Probation Service believed he could be rehabilitated.

She said that Pike had since moved out of the Albemarle area to get away from criminal associates.

She said he had served in the army for 12 years including active service in Northern Ireland which had led to post-traumatic-stress disorder.

Judge Simon Hickey said that Pike was clearly a street dealer whose “significant” enterprise was evidenced by the fact that he didn’t want police to see his text messages.

He said that Pike had been “wriggling around” on his basis of plea to supplying amphetamine, claiming he had been dealing only to friends and associates, when it was abundantly clear that he was a street dealer with many customers.

However, the judge said that if Pike were to be jailed, it would only be for a short period which would serve little purpose, and that a suspended sentence “will rehabilitate you much more than locking you up”.

Mr Hickey also cited the “inexplicable delay” in the case reaching court since Pike’s arrest nearly two years ago.

Pike was handed a 13-month suspended jail sentence with a six-month drug-rehabilitation requirement and a 15-day rehabilitation programme.