BOY, 12, 'YOUNGEST DEALER IN HARD DRUGS'

A BOY aged 12 who was caught peddling crack cocaine was facing a custodial
sentence yesterday after being branded England's youngest dealer in hard drugs.

The child, now 13, was found guilty of possessing heroin and crack cocaine
with intent to supply. He was caught by police with the narcotics stuffed
down his trouser pockets and carrying 400 UKP in cash while cycling to his
next customer, Inner London Crown Court was told.

Judge Quentin Campbell spoke of his "sadness and horror" at the case. "This
is a serious and very, very worrying case," he said after the schoolboy,
sitting between his mother and solicitor, was found guilty by a majority
verdict.

Turning to the jury, the judge said: "I have to say after 20 years on one
sort of bench or another, I never thought I would be presiding over such a
trial. The court, and I am sure you the jury, must be horrified to see such
a young boy, who, on the evidence, is clearly guilty of having crack
cocaine and heroin, perhaps the most dangerous drugs of all, with the
intention of supplying them to others."

After telling the child that he faced a real risk of custody, the judge
remanded him into local authority care for a month. Sentencing was
adjourned until reports are prepared.

The court was told how the schoolboy, at just 4ft 8in tall, small for his
age, had repeatedly tried to escape as plain-clothes police found 18
"rocks" of crack cocaine and two wraps of heroin worth a total of 500 UKP
crammed into his left tracksuit trouser pocket. He had been spotted cycling
with a 15-year-old boy.

As well as the 400 UKP in cash, more crack cocaine, a small amount of
cannabis and a further 1,600 UKP was found shortly afterwards at a friend's
flat. Police had been unable to find any evidence linking the 15-year-old
to the drugs. He was given a caution in connection with a small amount of
cannabis he was carrying.