A man with a stable job and a close family was "living a secret life" which unravelled the moment he walked into a bar.
Kai Birkett's double life unravelled when he was caught trying to enter Reef Bar, Warrington, on March 13 2022. A member of the door staff searched the now 23-year-old and found six bags of white powder, later identified to be cocaine with a street value of up to £300, in the front pocket of his jeans.
Birkett, of Belvedere Road, Newton-le-Willows, was handed over to a nearby police officer who arrested him. But Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon, Tuesday, October 3 that a search of Birkett's home address the next day found more cocaine, £500 in cash, a set of scales with cocaine residue on and three graft phones.
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In total around 4.28g of the class A drug, with a street value of up to £330, were found in Birkett's possession. Mr Blasbery told the court the three mobile phones had evidence of drug-related messages on them when examined by the police.
However, when interviewed by the police Birkett answered "no comment" to every question. Paul Wood, defending, said the case had taken a while to get to court but acknowledged "the defendant hasn't helped that because he did not cooperate with the police".
Mr Wood told the court at the time of the offence his client had a "lack of maturity" and was a cocaine addict who dealt the drug to "feed his habit". He had been using the drug since he was 18 and in March last year was dealing to fund his £300 a week habit. Birkett had also fallen into debt following the theft of a number of work tools.
Mr Wood said his client was "living a secret life". He told the court: "On the face he was a positive member of society and then got the habit and went to illegal lengths to feed that habit."
However, he added his client, who initially denied he had an addiction, has since accepted he had issues with his cocaine and ketamine use and has worked hard to address it. Mr Wood said Birkett had distanced himself from his peers, had not reoffended and had held down a solid job as a self-employed joiner on domestic contracts. He was described as "well thought of" in his profession.
Birkett was said to have "genuine remorse" for his offending and had felt feelings of paranoia and fear while waiting to learn his fate. Mr Wood said his client lives at home with his parents and two sisters, who although don't condone his behaviour, support him.
The defence added Birkett's debt has since been paid off but the defendant is now indebted to his mum to a sum of around £1,500. Mr Wood said he is "aware how serious the court's view is of cases of this nature", but called on the court to suspend any sentence.
Birkett, who was supported in court today by his parents and partner among others, pleaded guilty to one charge of possession with intent to supply a controlled Class A drug at Warrington Magistrates' Court at an earlier date.
Recorder Eric Lamb told Birkett he was "in part responsible for the delay" in the case getting to crown court, noting the delay was "of great concern" for the defendant. Addressing Birkett, the judge acknowledged Birkett's addiction brought about his offending, but added: "You were expecting financial advantage."
He 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." However, Recorder Lamb noted Birkett's strong personal mitigation, particularly how he had overcome his addiction and demonstrated he can hold down regular employment.
Recorder Lamb sentenced Birkett to two years, suspended for two years. The defendant, who wore a dark blue suit and sported a short brown beard and hair, 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.
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