Derby Toyota worker bought drugs on 'dark web'

A TOYOTA worker from Derby was snared after drugs he bought on the so-called “dark” or “deep” web were intercepted when they arrived at Heathrow Airport.

Adam Yates bought cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine on an online black market website called the Silk Road and then dealt them to a woman a court heard was called “Leah”.

Pictured: Adam Yates

Baz Bhattia, defending the 28-year-old, said his client was of “previous positive good character” and turned to drug dealing after a previous relationship breakdown.

The border agency intercepted a package of ecstasy tablets at Heathrow Airport that were addressed to Yates in February 2014 and an investigation began.

Derbyshire police would not say exactly how it was discovered he was buying the drugs on the “dark” web, but Judge Robert Egbuna said: “He was using an internet site called the Silk Road and on occasions it appears he was selling to more than one person based on the text message information we have seen.”

At his first hearing Yates, of Arran Close, Sinfin, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply MDMA (ecstasy) between December 2011 and August 2014, offering to supply cocaine between March 2013 and June 2014 and offering to supply class B ketamine, an anaesthetic drug, in June 2014.

At his sentencing hearing this week (April 13), Yates was handed a two year prison sentence, suspended for two years by a different judge, after hearing how he has “turned his life around” since he was arrested in 2014.

Recorder Ciaran Rankin said: “The background to this is that in February 2104 a package was intercepted at Heathrow Airport that contained 50 ecstasy tablets.

“You were interviewed by the police and answered ‘no comment;’ to the questions asked.

“A mobile phone and computer were seized and that brought evidence that you had been dealing drugs for some considerable time, from December 2011 to August 2014.

“But I have read references that say you are now a trustworthy and reliable person with no previous convictions.

“I have also read a letter from you where you state you are disappointed in yourself at your actions.”

The Silk Road was one of a number of black market websites where members dealt in items such as drugs and weapons.

It was the first modern “dark net” market, and was best known as a platform for selling illegal drugs.

It was operated as a hidden service that online users were able to browse anonymously and securely without being monitored.

In February 2013, an Australian cocaine and ecstasy dealer became the first person to be convicted of crimes directly related to Silk Road, after authorities intercepted drugs that he was importing through the mail, searched his premises, and discovered his online alias.

The site was shut by the FBI the same year and its American founder was arrested and convicted of seven counts, including drug dealing and money laundering.

Steve Holme, Derbyshire police’s drugs tsar, said despite the closure of the Silk Road, there were an estimated 70 other similar sites in operation worldwide that operated in a similar way.

Mr Bhattia, for Yates, told his sentencing hearing at Derby Crown Court, sitting at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court: “This is an unusual case with an unusual set of circumstances and from 2014 there is evidence to support my client has completely changed his life around.

“His temporary job is now permanent and he has a mortgage.”

As well as the suspended term, Recorder Rankins ordered Yates to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.

There will also be a proceeds of crime hearing on July 20 where the money he made from drug dealing could be recovered by the police.

A spokesman for Toyota said it would not comment on the case.