The moment a family man’s secret life was exposed has been revealed in court.
23-year-old Kai Birkett’s life came crashing down when he tried to enter a bar in Warrington, Cheshire on March 13, 2022.
Door staff searched him and found what was later identified to be six bags of cocaine in the front pocket of his jeans.
Birkett was then handed over to police who arrested him.
Speaking at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, October 3, Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said a search of Brikett’s home the day following his arrest found more than £500 cash as well as a set of scales with cocaine residue on.
The search also found three graft phones which, when examined by police, were found to have evidence of drug-related messages on them, the Liverpool Echo reports.
The police found a total of around 4.28 grams of cocaine worth up to £330 in Birkett’s possession.
When later interviewed by the police, Birkett answered “no comment” to every question.
Paul Wood, defending, noted the case had taken a while to get to court in part due to Birkett’s refusal to cooperate with the police.
Speaking to the court at the time of his offence, Mr Wood said his client had a “lack of maturity” and had been using cocaine from the age of 18.
Mr Wood also stated his client’s drug dealing was being used to feed his cocaine addiction which was costing him up to £300 a week and that his client had also fallen into debt following the theft of a number of work tools.
Mr Wood told the court his client was “living a secret life”.
He stated: “On the face he was a positive member of society and then got the habit and went to illegal lengths to feed that habit.”
Birkett initially denied having an addiction but has now reportedly accepted he had issues with cocaine and ketamine use and has worked hard to address this.
Mr Wood told the court his client had “genuine remorse” for his offending and had not reoffended and now had stable work as a self-employed joiner.
Mr Wood said his client now lives at home with his parents and his two sisters who do not condone his behaviour but still support him.
The defence stated Birkett has paid off his existing debts and is now indebted to his mother to a sum of around £1,500.
Mr Wood called on the court to suspend any sentence, saying he is “aware how serious the court’s view is of cases of this nature.”
Birkett, whose parents and partner were in attendance at court today, pleaded guilty to one charge of possession with intent to supply a controlled Class A drug at Warrington Magristrates’ Court in Cheshire at an earlier date.
Recorder Eric Lamb told Birkett: “You need no reminding of the devastation caused by the dissemination of Class A drugs…but you added to the spread of class A in your secret life.”
Recorded Lamb also noted, however, Birkett’s strong personal mitigation in overcoming his addiction and maintaining regular employment.
Recorder Lamb sentenced Birkett to two years, suspended for two years.
Birkett will also have to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation days, and a necessary community order.
A deprivation order for the mobile phones had been made earlier in the hearing and the £500 cash will be donated to a local charity.
