Man discovered with drugs 'hidden in his underwear' jailed at Derry Court

A man has been sentenced at Derry Crown Court for a number of drug charges.

Dylan Beattie (26), whose address was given as Maghaberry, was charged that between February 1 2023 and June 6 2024, supplying class A and B drugs and and, on July 9 last year, possession of them. 

He had been arraigned on July 18 and pleaded guilty to the charges.

He was initially arrested on July 9 last year after police spotted him using a phone and making movements in his tracksuit bottoms upon being noticed by police.

An initial search did not find anything but he was arrested and searched again while in custody, with police this time finding drugs hidden in his underwear with an estimated street value of £220.

A phone that was seized showed messages that confirmed that Bestie was concerned in the supply of these drugs.

When interviewed on July 10 he admitted to using the drugs himself and to the charges of possession but declined to give his username for Telegram and Snapchat accounts on the phone.

He was later interviewed on September 19 and admitted to the supply charges.

He said that he had been making a small profit but was only dealing to pay off his own drug debts.

The court heard that he had 'significant addiction issues' and has 27 previous convictions, twelve of which are for drugs offences.

Probation assessed Beattie as having a high likelihood of reoffending and he was told that ongoing support was the key to to prevent further offences.

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He was sentenced to 21 months in custody and a three year combination order.