Hartlepool drug dealer caught with an 'arsenal of weapons'

Nathan McKenzie-Owens was initially arrested on Christmas Eve last year when he was found in possession of heroin and cannabis.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 42-year-old was arrested less than two weeks later - and this time he was caught with crack cocaine and heroin.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said the defendant was arrested for a third time when he was spotted driving erratically around Hartlepool and police recovered three knives and a baseball bat from his car.

She said police recovered £220 worth of crack cocaine when they raided the defendant’s house on January 4 this year.

“He was seen to throw packages to the floor and stamped on them,” she said. “The bags contained heroin and crack cocaine.”

Less than two weeks later, the police were alerted to a Ford Fusion being driven erratically and eventually located the car in the McDonald’s car park.

Miss Masters said a search of the vehicle resulted in three knives being located as well as a baseball bat.

The court heard how the defendant had 17 convictions for 45 offences including one for possession of an offensive weapon from 1998.

Nathan McKenzie-Owens (Image: Cleveland Police)

McKenzie-Owens, of Gloucester Street, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a Class A drug, two charges of possession of heroin, one charge of possession of cannabis, and a further four offences of possession of three knives and a baseball bat.

Robert Mochrie, mitigating, said his client understood that a custodial sentence was inevitable despite his early pleas of guilt.

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Judge Richard Bennett said: “You were living with drug dealers who were using you to supply users on the street.”

Turning to the weapons offences, the judge added: “An arsenal of weapons was recovered from the vehicle.

“In police custody you said you hated knife crime, yet you were found with a lock knife in your hoodie and other knives and a baseball bat in your car.”

McKenzie-Owens was jailed for a total of three years and one month for all offences.