Young thug given chance after club attack jailed for drug dealing

Lucas Sexton was spared immediate custody last summer for his role in an ‘unprovoked’ group assault on a night out in the town centre.

But the 20-year-old wasted the change given to him by choosing to peddle drugs, and he was caught hiding them in the toilet of his flat.

Sexton was later charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, as well as possessing criminal property in the form of cash.

He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, May 22, appearing via videolink from HM Prison Altcourse.

The court heard from prosecutor Paul Blasbery how on Saturday, April 15, officers from Cheshire Police executed a search warrant at a flat at Jurby Court in Padgate.

Sexton was in the address at the time in the bathroom, with officers discovering bags of powder suspected to be cocaine in the toilet cistern.

A search of the flat also recovered £1,570 in cash and a large amount of cannabis consistent with drug dealing.

In total, 72 separate bags of cocaine were seized weighing just over 26 grammes, with the drugs having an estimated total street value of up to £3,850.

Sets of scales and snap bags were also recovered before the defendant was arrested. He answered on comment to all questions put to him during his police interview.

Mr Blasbery told the court how this was clearly a case in which Sexton played a ‘significant role’ in street drug dealing, with a tick list with around 15 customers on.

The court also heard how Sexton has two previous convictions for two offences, having previously been spared jail in August for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

In December 2021, he was one of three defendants who launched an ‘unprovoked’ attack on a reveller outside Reef Bar in the town centre.

The victim, who was on a works night out, accidentally bumped into and was subsequently punched a co-defendant.

Lucas Sexton was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court. Picture: PA

The court heard how ‘the fight then spilled outside’, where two victims were ‘goaded’ by all three defendants.

A number of punches were thrown by the trio, who followed the victims up the street after they asked them to leave them alone.

One victim was punched in the back of the head, causing him to fall to the floor, where he was then kneed to the stomach.

CCTV footage shown to the court revealed how all three men were punching the victims at one point, while there was then ‘an attempt to evade police’ by all three.

Before sentencing last summer, the judge said Sexton was lucky not to be given immediate imprisonment and gave them a stern warning against further offending.

He was handed a six-month custodial sentence suspended for two years, as well as 200 hours of unpaid work, but failed to take this warning seriously by breaking the law again.

Representing his client for the drug matters, Peter Killen said: “Having got himself into this predicament, he had the good sense to admit his criminality at the start.”

He added that Sexton could potentially be diagnosed with autism and has already been diagnosed with ADHD.

The defendant has started education and training in custody to earn certificates in maths and English, and he is also looking to train in joinery to gain employment on his release and ‘make a better go of things’.

Before sentencing, judge David Hale said: “This was quite deliberate street dealing by you, and you knew the risks.

“You were warned before with your previous conviction, and yet again here you are, dealing in cocaine and cannabis.”

Sexton, of Jurby Court, was sentenced to three years in a young offender institution.

He is set to appear back before the court later this year for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing to learn how much of his ill-gotten gains he will have to repay.