In a bid to combat drug trafficking in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens, 34-year-old Demitrius Wright has been banned from the city center for his involvement in supplying narcotics to an undercover police officer.In a bid to combat drug trafficking in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens, 34-year-old Demitrius Wright has been banned from the city center for his involvement in supplying narcotics to an undercover police officer. During an interaction in Manchester city center, Wright facilitated the sale of crack cocaine to the officer, receiving a £20 note and delivering the illicit substance minutes later. He also expressed a desire to consume some of the drugs himself. Wright’s arrest led to the discovery of previous drug-related convictions, including theft and assault. The prevalence of drug offenses in Piccadilly Gardens was highlighted by Judge Ciaran Rankin during the sentencing. Tanya Elahi, representing Wright, argued that his role in the drug supply was minimal and that he was primarily a user rather than a dealer. She attributed his involvement to a drug addiction triggered by unemployment and homelessness following the COVID-19 lockdown. Despite Wright’s remorse and determination to improve his life, Judge Rankin sentenced him to 32 months in prison. The sentence included a five-year criminal behavior ban that restricts Wright from entering designated areas in the city center except for legal appointments. This ban is part of a broader effort to curb drug-related offenses in Piccadilly Gardens and its negative impact on the community.
A dealer involved in the supply of drugs to an undercover police officer in Piccadilly Gardens has been banned from the city centre.
Demitrius Wright, 34, was with a group in Manchester city centre when he took a £20 note from the officer and then handed it to a member of staff. Within minutes the pair had gone around a corner and Wright returned with a ‘rock’ of crack cocaine, Manchester Crown Court heard.
He also asked if he could use some of the drugs himself.
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The next day, the officer was walking near Piccadilly Gardens when he heard the other man he had seen with Wright shouting at him as he stood outside the Crafty Pig pub on Oldham Street.
“The man beckoned to him and asked what he wanted, and the officer said, ‘Two white ones’ before handing him a £20 note,” said prosecutor Harriet Lavin, reporting on this second encounter.
“He then pulled out a clear plastic bag containing a large quantity of wrappers and handed him two of them. This suspect appeared to be part of the negotiations between the undercover officer and the man.”
The drug was later tested and confirmed to be crack cocaine. Wright, of no fixed abode, was found to have previous convictions indicating a ‘pattern of drug-related offences’, including theft and assault.
“This type of offending is an epidemic in that area,” Judge Ciaran Rankin told the court.
In Wright’s defense, Tanya Elahi argued that he was not high up in the hierarchy and played only a “minimal” role in the case.
“He claims he is a drug user rather than a drug dealer. He was involved in the supply of drugs and assisted in deals in the hope that people would share the drugs with him,” she said.
“He was at a low point in his life.”
She added that he had previously worked in sales but developed a drug addiction after the COVID lockdown, lost his job and became homeless.
“None of this justifies his behaviour, he regrets his actions and is determined to get his life back on track.”
Sentencing Wright to 32 months in prison, Judge Ciaran Rankin said: “I accept that you were merely attempting to facilitate such a transaction to further your addiction. Those involved at any level in the sale of drugs know about the misfortunes and effects that drugs have on individuals, families and communities.
“It is a threat to the environment.”
Wright was also given a five-year criminal behaviour ban, banning him from designated areas in the city centre except for organised meetings with his lawyers.
