Jacob Talbot and Connor Stanyer, both 26, had been seen by police in the Morrisons car park in Diss and were "believed to be involved in drug dealing".

The Morrisons car park in Diss (Image: Newsquest)

Norwich Crown Court heard the pair were arrested when they were pulled over at Palgrave, near Diss, in September 2022.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

Juliet Donovan, prosecuting, said Stanyer had been driving the car in which was found "wads of cash" as well as 13.2 grams of cocaine.

A knuckle duster was found in the door of the car, which belonged to Stanyer. 

Miss Donovan said Talbot was found in possession of £2130 of cash while Stanyer had £280.

Although neither defendant provided the PIN numbers to their phones, police were able to access messages in which Talbot revealed he was "selling large amounts of cocaine" and was being assisted by Stanyer, who was "addicted to cocaine".

Talbot, of Rose Lane in Diss, appeared in court on Tuesday (March 3) having admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possession with intent to supply cocaine.

Jacob Talbot (left) and Connor Stanyer (Image: Facebook)

Stanyer, from Uckfield in East Sussex, appeared alongside him in the dock having admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possession of an offensive weapon, a knuckle-duster, in a public place.

Recorder Nicola Fitches said the supply of class A drugs "leads to misery, degradation and early deaths" and was "wholly corrosive to values of our society".

But giving both defendants credit for their pleas she imposed suspended terms of imprisonment in relation to both.

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Stanyer was given 23 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, while Talbot was given 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 20 months.

Jonathan Goodnan, mitigating for Stanyer, said the defendant has done "a lot of growing up" since the offences almost four years ago.

He said he had removed himself from the area, got a job, and has become a "doting father" to a daughter. 

"The world he inhabits now is a very different world to the one he was enmeshed in around 2022," said the barrister. 

John Morgans, mitigating for Talbot, said the defendant was "still a young man" who deserved credit for his pleas. 

He said he had difficulties as a child and was now medicated for his ADHD, and wanted to provide a childhood for his daughter that he never had. 

Mr Morgans said he fell into drug addiction at a young age and ran up a debt which he had to pay off by dealing. 

Both defendants were also each given 10 days' Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) and 150 hours' unpaid work.

© Eastern Daily Press