A drug runner from Watford was told he was getting a “final chance” by a judge.

Today (August 4) Brian Bryson, 38, was given a suspended jail sentence after the judge heard he had been stabbed and was dealing “under compulsion” to clear a £2,500 drug debt.

Prosecutor Andrea Scott-Lynch said officers were in an unmarked police car at 4.30pm in the afternoon on April 6 2022 when they saw what they thought was a drug deal in Abbots Langley.

“They followed the defendant on a moped and stopped him. He said he was just delivering food, but was shaking and nervous.

“He told the police: ‘You will be taking me in. I have got Class A’.”

Cocaine with a street value of £180, six bags of cannabis, with a street value between £120 and £180, and £90 cash was seized.

When a mobile phone was examined, it showed Bryson had been delivering drugs under instruction for the previous three days.

There had been 24 drug-related messages on April 4 a further 29 messages on April 5 and 13 on April 6.

Bryson of Blue Anchor Court, Jubilee Road, Watford, appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to possessing Class A and Class B drugs with intent to supply. He had 17 previous convictions for 32 offences.

The prosecutor said she acknowledged there had been some level of compulsion that caused him to deal.

Defending, Robin Younghusband said he had been street dealing after racking up a drug debt. He said he had been in care as a child and suffered abuse which led to alcohol and drug addiction.

“He got into debt with those who directed him,” he said.

He said Bryson, who is on universal credit, had performed only a limited role under direction and had been threatened and recently stabbed. Other than this drug offence he said he had kept out of trouble since 2019.

Recorder Lee Harris said he accepted he had acted as a runner because of compulsion.

He sentenced him to 21 months in jail suspended for 18 months.

Bryson must also attend at Thinking Skills Programme, a six-month alcohol requirement and 20 rehabilitation days. In addition, he must abide by a four-month curfew between 9pm and 7am.

The judge told him: “I hope you appreciate you are being given a final chance.”