Drug dealer is again spared jail before starting £45,000-a-year job

A convicted drug dealer has avoided jail after claiming he had got himself a job as a florist earning £45,000 a year.

Harry Shakespeare, 31, who lived in Hulme, Manchester, was caught peddling party drugs mephedrone and ketamine for his boyfriend.

But although he already had a conviction for supplying former legal highs, Shakespeare pleaded for mercy after claiming he was due to start a lucrative position as a florist in London earning almost twice the average UK wage. 

At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, he admitted being involved in supplying drugs but only received six months jail suspended for 18 months.

On his Facebook page he claims to be an ‘senior international florist’ specialising in events including weddings.

Judge Angela Nield told him: ‘You are no stranger to appearing before these courts in 2016 you were sentenced to a community order in respect of very similar matters.

‘But you are a man of not inconsiderable talent in terms of your skill in floristry and design. You have a future ahead of you that many young men facing similar charges would envy – the opportunity of a stable job and a good career.

Shakespeare claims to be an ‘senior international florist’ specialising in the likes of weddings

‘Had you not presented such a positive picture you would have gone straight to serving a custodial sentence which would have put an end to the career you have before you.

‘You are not a young man who presents an immediate danger to the public but form part of an insidious network of offenders who bring untold harm to young lives.

‘If your offending behaviour does not stop now you will find yourself serving a period of custody.’

The court heard Shakespeare had had been spared jail in April 2016 for supplying mephedrone – also known as M-CAT – but in June 2018 he was caught with a haul of ketamine whilst entering Manchester Crown Court for undisclosed reasons.

The court heard Shakespeare had had been spared jail in April 2016 for supplying mephedrone

Prosecutor David Lees said: ‘He entered the building and his bag was searched and he was found in possession of two small bags of Ketamine. As a result of that arrest his phone was examined and there were drug text messages.

‘People would contact him asking for contacts, or they were asking for drugs and he would say I have got some. He pleads guilty on the basis of a relationship with Sean Morrisey who was involved in dealing drugs.’

In a statement Shakespeare said: ‘At the time of the offences I was in a relationship with Sean Morrisey and he was involved in dealing drugs.

‘I was addicted to Ketamine and Sean would supply me with the same. It was agreed that if I supplied drugs to friends or close associates Sean would then provide me with the Ketamine for my own personal use.

Shakespeare asked for mercy after claiming he was due to start a lucrative position as a florist

‘I did not gain financially from the supply of drugs. I was also asked by others to provide contact numbers of people who would be able to supply drugs. 

‘Since my arrest I have ceased supplying drugs. I am now drug free. I have removed myself from the area and all known associates connected with drugs.’

Shakespeare was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation days for drug addiction. It is though Morrissey was given a suspended sentence at an earlier hearing.

In mitigation defence lawyer Joe Rawlings said: ‘He does have a previous conviction and that conviction complicates matter. But these matters are very different, it is clear Mr Shakespeare in the course of the last few years has had a problem with drugs.

Shakespeare was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation days

‘Mr Shakespeare explained to me in six months before the arrest he was in a very dark place he was sitting alone at home, not working and taking drugs on his own. As he describes it he was sick of everything with no energy or money and had lost all drive.

‘He self-referred for help, went to his GP, he has explained to me during those months he was in the company of other users and that brought home his trajectory.

‘He is genuinely free of drugs now, he returned back down south where his family are and has full-time employment as a florist. They have now offered him – starting in September – a full time role with a salary of £45,000 a year. 

‘He is different now to 2016. He would benefit further from intervention, it is clear during the last sentence there was no intervention.’

The average florist earns around £7.92 per hour.