Lengthy jail sentence for dealer twice caught with drugs inside taxi

David Banton was arrested outside Nottingham Railway Station after police found drugs

A drug dealer has been handed a lengthy prison sentence after police twice caught him being taxied around with large quantities of Class A drugs.

David Banton, aged 60, received a suspended prison sentence in November 2023 after police found heroin and cocaine worth about £30,000 in his pockets.

The haul was discovered after officers stopped a taxi he got into moments after carrying out a drug deal in Bentick Road, Forest Field.

In handing him a two-year jail sentence, suspended for two years, a judge warned him he risked going to prison if he committed any further offences.

Despite this, on 10 December 2024, he was again caught with a large quantity of Class A drugs – again in a taxi.

On this occasion, a neighbourhood sergeant saw Banton and a woman get into the taxi in Station Street, Nottingham. The woman appeared to be in distress and so the sergeant and a second officer stopped the taxi to check on her welfare.

Further checks revealed Banton had a long history of drug crime dating back to 2004, when he was found guilty of supplying crack cocaine to an undercover police officer.

Due to this information and the officers' observations, Banton was removed from the taxi and searched, with the officers finding more than £600 in cash along with crack cocaine and heroin worth about £2,000 in his coat pockets.

He was arrested and again put before the courts.

Banton, of Penrhyn Close, St Ann’s, Nottingham, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday (15 January) where he was jailed for eight years.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession with intent to supply heroin and possession of criminal property.

Sergeant Jono Pothecary, who made the arrest and led the subsequent investigation, said:

“Banton was given the chance to turn his life around following his suspended sentence in November 2023. However, instead of grasping that opportunity, he sadly returned to selling drugs.

“Banton clearly has a total disregard for the law and thought he was untouchable, and I am therefore pleased that the sentence imposed by the courts reflects the seriousness of his repeat offending.

“Tackling and preventing drug harm continues to be a priority for us, and we will continue to disrupt and stop people like Banton preying on some of the most vulnerable members of our communities and bringing misery to our streets.”