A DRUG dealer involved in a conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin into Worcester would only come into the courtroom if his mum came with him and sat beside him.

Jacob Sealey was one of a number of dealers involved in a conspiracy to supply class A drugs into the city as part of a County Lines drug dealing business, running out of Coventry.

The 23-year-old of March Way, Coventry, appeared at Worcester Crown Court yesterday and was permitted to sit at the back of court with his mum rather than in the dock following a request by his advocate.

Ordinarily, the families of defendants are expected to sit in the public gallery above the court and defendants have to answer charges from the dock.

However, exceptions can be made depending on the circumstances of the case and at the judge's discretion.

Paul Williams, defending, said Sealey's family wished to apologise for being late for the hearing. He assured the judge they were 'only two minutes away'.

After he had confirmed his name, the two indictments were put to Sealey.

The defendant admitted being in possession of diamorphine (heroin), a class A drug, with intent to supply on February 1, 2017.

On the second indictment he admitted conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin between July 12, 2018 and July 24, 2018.

Sealey and others were arrested as part of a County Lines investigation into the CJ line by West Mercia Police after they received intelligence that dealers were using the Travelodge in Worcester as a base.

His co-defendants were sentenced last year having all pleaded guilty. Sealey had previously maintained a not guilty plea. However, he entered guilty pleas at the short hearing on Tuesday.

Before Christmas we reported how another dealer - Robert Leeds - was jailed for four years for another, unrelated County Lines operation to supply drugs in the city which also made use of Worcester's hotels, including the Premier Inn in New Road. Leeds was part of a gang that had also supplied class A drugs but, because of his denials, he could not be sentenced at the same time as the other gang members.

Leeds, 30, of Ipstones Avenue, Stechford, who claimed he was a homeless addict, not a dealer, was convicted by a jury for being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, possession of a bladed article (a large Bowie knife) and possession with intent to supply both crack cocaine and heroin last month.

In Sealey's case, a pre-sentence report will need to be prepared by the probation service before he is sentenced on February 10. Sealey will be sentenced by Judge James Burbidge QC who has previous knowledge of the case.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright, who heard the case on Tuesday, said: "I will direct that a pre-sentence report should be prepared. I will make it a condition of his bail that he must co-operate with the probation service in the preparation of such a report. He must understand, the fact I'm adjourning, giving him bail and ordering the report is not to be taken as any sort of indication or promise of what the sentence will be."