The teenager claims he turns to dealing crack cocaine after criminals threatened to stab his little sister
Kamal Snagg outside Liverpool Crown Court(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A teenager was caught red handed dealing crack cocaine from the back of a taxi next to the Bombed Out Church. Kamal Snagg claimed that he had turned to dealing after criminals warned they would stab his little sister.
These threats apparently arose as a result of a drug debt which was supposedly owed by his mum. But, having been spared prison, he is now hoping to join the army and “serious about changing his life around”.
Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Tuesday, that officers on patrol in an unmarked police car saw a man named Roy Walker “break into a run while looking around” on Berry Street in Liverpool city centre shortly before 12.30am on November 15 2024. He was then seen entering a taxi which was parked at the junction with Bold Place, beside St Luke’s Church.
Sarah Egan, prosecuting, described how Walker thereafter “appeared to be involved in a hand to hand transaction with a person in the rear of the taxi”. Having exited the vehicle, he was said to have attempted to make off from the PCs before being detained on Wood Street, being found in possession of around £120 of crack cocaine.
Snagg, of Belvedere Road in Toxteth, was meanwhile handcuffed in the back of the taxi. The now 20-year-old claimed that Walker, who was later charged with possession of class A drugs in relation to the incident, was a “friend of his mother’s” and maintained that he was “collecting £200 which he owed to someone”.
Having also been found with a small amount of cannabis on his person, a search of Snagg’s then home on Aigburth Road revealed a further £70 of crack cocaine, as well as numerous empty snap bags and a set of digital scales containing the residue of white powder. He went on to claim that “everything belonged to Benjy”, but “did not elaborate further who that was”.
When Snagg’s phone was subsequently analysed, it was found to contain numerous messages in which various “flavours and varieties of cannabis” were offered for sale to customers. Under interview, he told detectives that he “wasn’t going to be safe”, saying that the “people he was dealing with were going to stab his little sister” and that they “knew where his family lived”.
Snagg also refused to disclose the names of these people, stating that he was “in fear for his mother’s, sister’s and his life”. While he confessed that £100 of cash which was found in his possession had been given to him by the person who he had dealt drugs to, he maintained that a further £240 was his wages from working in a garage.
Kamal Snagg outside Liverpool Crown Court(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Simran Garcha, defending, told the court: “He accepts full responsibility for his offending behaviour and is ashamed and contrite to find himself before your honour. The trigger for his offending appears to have been the motivation to help his mother pay off a drug debt. It was financially motivated in that regard.
“Although he felt pressure and an obligation to help his mother, he did act freely. He recognises now that his behaviour was extremely foolish. Undoubtedly, his young age played a role in that. He was 19 at the time of the commission of this offending. I submit that his age and immaturity played a large role in his offending behaviour.
“He has no previous convictions, despite his very difficult upbringing. Since the commission of these offences, there has been no further offending. He tells me that these proceedings have caused a great deal of distress and anxiety for him. No doubt, this conviction will serve as significant deterrent. He assures me that this will be his last time before the courts.
“His early life was characterised by trauma and instability. His mother has been a drug addict for all of his life. His father has severe mental health concerns. Growing up, he witnessed domestic abuse in the household. From the age of eight, he was removed from the care of his mother and placed into the care system.
“No young person should be in this position. He had no role models and no form of stability. He has no familial support at all. He has got a very fractured relationship with his mother and places a lot of the blame on her. He is not on speaking terms with his mother at present.
“He has lived by himself since the age of 16. He lives alone in his flat and takes great care of his property. If he loses his liberty today, he will lose that accommodation. It is clear that stable accommodation and the right support will be factors in his rehabilitation.
“He wants to join the army. He is completely desisting from taking cannabis now. He is serious about changing his life around. He is in a happy and healthy relationship with his partner. She is the only support that he has available to him.
“Mr Snagg knows that he finds himself in an extremely serious position. This is a young man who has never committed offences before and has not committed offences since. He is making real steps to try to turn his life around and is looking at employment prospects.
“The custodial setting would no doubt open himself up to far more negative influences. This offending is completely out of character for him. He knows that a suspended sentence order is not an easy way out. It requires hard work and determination on his part with an immediate custodial term hanging over him.”
Snagg admitted possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply, supplying cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cannabis and possession of cannabis. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey Berghaus tracksuit with his black hair tied back in a bun, he was handed a 28-month community order with 180 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 25 days, as well as being told to pay £150 in court costs.
Kamal Snagg outside Liverpool Crown Court(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Sentencing, Recorder Sarah Griffin said: “It is clear from those messages that you had thrown yourself wholeheartedly into the supply of cannabis. You said that you were doing so to pay off the debts of your mother and were doing so under threat.
“You are of previous good character. At the time of your offending, you were 19 years old. I have heard about your difficult background and the trauma that you experienced through childhood. You have struggled with your own mental health.
“You would be likely to lose your accommodation were you to be sentenced to immediate custody. I am told that it is your intention to gain employment and, ultimately, join the army.
“I am told that these proceedings have caused you stress and anxiety, and the weight of these proceedings on your shoulders means you have reflected on your behaviour. It seems you have worked out that being before courts with the possibility of being sent to prison is not the future you want for yourself. You have, to your credit, to some extent, proved to the court already that you are starting to rehabilitate yourself.
Kamal Snagg outside Liverpool Crown Court(Image: Liverpool Echo)
“Many in this building would have sent you to prison today. I am giving you this chance. Do not waste it. Stop using cannabis. Stay true to your word and put this offending behind you.
“You do have a chance to turn your life around. Keep looking after your health, put your time and effort into gaining employment. I truly hope that you do not find yourself back before these courts.”