West Mercia Police call handler spared immediate jail by judge

In an unusual move a judge left Courtroom 1 at Worcester Crown Court and spent nearly 20 minutes weighing up whether he should sent Lucy Tull straight to prison. 

Aimee Parkes, prosecuting, said the 25-year-old dealt cocaine, cannabis and nitrous oxide, a psychoactive substance, to a group of friends. 

She said analysis of phones seized by police revealed the extent of the dealing which took place between January 2018 and October 2021. 

The prosecutor said in the money laundering offence a man pretending to be a bank manager had called a victim getting her to transfer £2,850. 

COURT: Lucy Tull leaving Worcester Crown Court with a supporter (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

The money was transferred into Tull's bank account and she then transferred the money into a cryptocurrency account.

Miss Parkes added there had been planning as a day before the offence, £5 was transferred by Tull to the account to establish it worked.

The prosecutor said Tull gave no comment interviews to police.

The court heard the victim's personal statement in which she said she could not believe she had duped.

The victim said the money had been life savings as part of a rainy day fund, and she found out it was a scam in which she had lost all the money in December 2020 when her bank contacted her. 

COURT: Lucy Tull leaving Worcester Magistrates Court last month (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

Belinda Ariss, defending, said Tull had no previous convictions but lost her good character by admitting supplying a controlled drug of Class A (cocaine), supplying a controlled drug of Class B (cannabis), supplying a psychoactive substance and acquire/use/possess criminal property. 

Mrs Ariss said Tull had seen a crypto advert on Instagram and started speaking to a man named 'Jordan'. 

"She saw it as a way of making extra money," Mrs Ariss said. 

SENTENCED: Lucy Tull was given a suspended jail sentence at Worcester Crown Court

"She didn't know where the money had come from but she did have suspicions it was from illegal activity."

Mrs Ariss said Tull had dealt drugs to friends when they went out partying and wanted to never take illegal substances again.

Mrs Ariss said Tull had been "naive" and added she lost her job as a call handler, and was now working in Manchester.

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Recorder Martin Butterworth said although Tull's job as a call handler was not relevant, it would have meant she knew the seriousness having possibly taken calls about similar crimes. 

After his deliberations outside the courtroom the judge returned and told Tull, of Melville Street, Salford, Greater Manchester and previously of Foley Road, Newent, Gloucestershire, she was being jailed for 20 months, suspended for two years. 

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Recorder Butterworth said the no comment interviews and lack of openness with the probation service for a pre-sentence report, pointed to Tull potentially being obstructive to protect others involved. 

Tull was ordered to complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 120 hours of unpaid work. 

Tull left the court on Thursday, (March 9) wearing sunglasses, despite falling sleet and rain, in a bid to avoid a court reporter picturing her. 

• A charge of knowingly/recklessly obtaining or disclose personal data without consent of controller, which Tull was set to face a trial for next month, was discontinued.