A drug dealing couple, who built an ‘enterprise’ selling cocaine, ecstasy and other class A drugs, have been spared time behind bars to look after their baby boy.
Emily Ekin, 30, and Jake Redfern, 32, were taken into custody when police busted their drug operation after searching their home in Fenton in March 2023.
In total police seized 55 ecstasy tablets, some ketamine, cannabis, electronic scales as well as £310.
Two phones were also recovered from the property, linking Ekin to the sale of ecstasy and ketamine and Redfern to the sale of cocaine.
The couple have since been given a two-year suspended jail sentence after a judge determined they acted out of ‘desperation’ and were at low risk of re-offending whilst also considering they had a young child to care for.
Prosecuting, David Farley, said police executed a search warrant at the duo’s home on Best Street on March 3, 2023, and the couple were both arrested afterwards.
‘Ekin would sell ecstasy and ketamine and Redfern would sell cocaine. They were both involved in each other’s business,’ Mr Farley told the Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
In addition to the mother’s guilty plea to a separate charge of possessing an offensive weapon, both entered guilty pleas to multiple narcotics crimes with intent to supply.
Ekin pleaded guilty to possession of the class A drug ecstasy to supply; possession of class B drug ketamine with intent to supply; possession of class B drug cannabis; and possession of an offensive weapon, a knuckle duster.
Redfern also pleaded guilty to possession of class A drug ecstasy to supply; possession of class B drug ketamine with intent to supply; being involved in supplying class A drug cocaine to another; and possession of class B drug cannabis.
Gurdit Singh, mitigating for both defendants, said they were fully aware that immediate custody would be at the forefront of the court’s mind.
He told the court that the parents did not feel they had any other ‘alternative other than to embark on this enterprise’, as Redfern was unemployed and Ekin’s wage was minimal.
Singh also argued that Redfern’s father would not live much longer and that the 32-year-old was eager to spend as much time as possible with him.
He also said the drug dealer’s absence would have a ‘devastating impact’ on the couple’s one-year-old son as well as Redfern’s two other children.
Judge Graeme Smith suspended the two’s prison term. Both offenders were judged capable of rehabilitation, able to care for their child, and with a minimal chance of reoffending.
As part of the suspended sentences, Ekin must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 25 days and 120 hours of unpaid work.
This appears to be far too forgiving, and whereas such activities once called for automatic jail time, they are now thriving because people realise that they will simply get a slap on the wrist if discovered, so making our legal system complicit in criminal activity.
They ought to have been penalised for their past actions rather than their potential for future transgressions.
It appears that we can do anything we want these days without having to worry about going to prison.
The kind of slime that makes money off of this suffering, particularly when it’s being marketed to young children, is what I care about, not the drug users. The absence of consequences only serves to encourage more of the same.
Before dealing, they ought to have considered their child. Many families are impoverished, but they make the best of their situation.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 
Seems a decent decision – they’ll be monitored & have to report every week. Any more buying to supply will get jail time / criminal record / breakup of family – damage to their child being put into care … Hope police found their suppliers as that’s where the main source is.
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