A CRIMINAL who supplied drugs to children, one as young as 13, has been jailed for 20 months.

Former Chester man Kevin Peter Deakin, 43, now of Gwernymynydd, admitted supplying cannabis to youngsters aged between 13 and 17 in Mold and Gwernymynydd last year.

Judge Niclas Parry, sitting at Mold Crown Court, said Deakin was a predator who had targeted and corrupted children into taking drugs.

Parents should know the courts would do everything possible to protect their children from people such as Deakin, he said.

“This is no ordinary case of supply cannabis,” said the judge.

“This is an experienced criminal with an appalling record including substantial sentences for supplying Class A drugs.”

Deakin had come from Chester into a North Wales market town and targeted young boys with the sole intention of selling drugs.

“One of them was only 13,” added the judge. “You corrupted them. Your actions were nothing short of predatory.”

The judge said he took into account Deakin’s guilty pleas to nine charges of supplying the Class B drug, and his poor health. But if he had been convicted after a trial then he would have received a two-and-a-half-year sentence, the judge warned.

Simon Parry, prosecuting, said one evening last September a police officer saw Deakin in the company of two boys aged 13 at the Blaen Wern car park in Gwernymynydd, and thought it was suspicious. Deakin saw the officer’s marked police car, waved to the boys and walked off.

The officer searched the boys, found cannabis, they were taken to the police station, and later made statements indicating they had been buying cannabis off Deakin on a regular basis.

One boy said he had been introduced to Deakin, had been provided with his mobile telephone number, and they would make arrangements to meet in Mold or in Gwernymynydd to buy cannabis

Brian Treadwell, defending, said Deakin accepted responsibility for what he had done. He knew he had to change his ways or he would die.

While in custody he had an emergency scan which showed he had deep vein thrombosis which, if not treated, was very serious.

He had also been affected by the fact his medication had been changed when first remanded in custody.