ARMED DRUGS DEALER, 14, IS DETAINED

A 14-year-old boy who carried a loaded semi-automatic pistol while dealing
in crack cocaine and heroin was sent to a young offenders' institution for
four and a half years yesterday.

Anthony Ramsey, of Moss Side, Manchester, was arrested at the house where
he was staying. Undercover police officers found him with drugs worth
pounds 3,000, six mobile telephones, a radio scanner tuned to police
frequencies and a semi-automatic pistol loaded with six rounds of ammunition.

Ramsey, now 15, admitted possessing drugs with intent to supply when he
appeared at Manchester Crown Court. He also admitted possession of a
firearm and ammunition. Narda Thomas, 23, who pleaded guilty to allowing
her home to be used for the supply of drugs, was jailed for three years.

Julian Holt, defending Ramsey, said: "No one can fail to be saddened that a
young boy of 14 is working as a drug dealer, that he has category A drugs
worth pounds 3,000 and, more worrying, that he has a loaded pistol in his
possession."