Drug dealer caught after accidentally texting price list to police officer at Leeds Festival
'He decided to sell drugs while completely high; he rocks up, takes a lot of them himself, then sends message to police'
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A Leeds Festival drug dealer was caught after accidentally texting his price list to a police officer.
Martynas Benosenko was found with more than £3,600 worth of cocaine, MDMA and cannabis on him after messaging an officer with an itemised rundown of what he was selling at the music event.
The 22-year-old former TGI Friday chef was also carrying business cards reading "Flavour Town LS6" – a reference to the area of Leeds where he lives.
He was jailed for three years four months at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of possession and intent to supply a class A drug, Leeds Live reports.
Jessica Randall, prosecuting, said Benosenko had first come to police attention after security staff at the festival, in August 2018, spotted him smoking cannabis in the grime tent.
Christopher Dunn, mitigating, said he had lost his job a short time earlier and saw dealing as an opportunity to make some money.
“He decided to go sell drugs at Leeds Festival while completely high,” he said. “He thought it would be a good idea, not having a clue what he was getting himself into.
"To say this was a Heath Robinson operation would be something of an understatement.
"He rocks up at the festival, takes a lot of these drugs himself, obviously turning attention to himself, and then sends his price list to the police.”
Sentencing, Recorder Joanne Kidd told him: "When parents allow their children and young people to attend these festivals, it is often with a degree of trepidation.
"You set out to earn a significant amount of money and the young people at the festival are vulnerable to people like you preying on their vulnerability and stupidity.
"There is not a single festival of this size that goes on without young people collapsing, becoming seriously ill and, in some circumstances, dying.
"The fact that you chose this venue to ply your trade is an aggravating feature."