A TEENAGE cyclist found with a bag of cocaine wraps in the early hours of the morning agreed to deliver them because of the threats he received from a drug dealer, a court was told.

Kerim Ozdemir, now 20, admitted possessing cocaine, a class A drug, with intent to supply but he was spared custody after the prosecution investigated his claims and accepted that they were true.

Judge Huw Rees warned Ozdemir, of Horsley Drive in Wrexham, that people in his position could go to prison for up to seven years but under the circumstances his sentence would be suspended.

A 12 month sentence of youth detention was suspended for a year, he was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and he was placed on 30 day drugs rehabilitation.

Mold Crown Court heard Ozdemir had a drugs debt of £2,500 and was subjected to threats against himself, his family and his home.

He was threatened to deliver wraps of cocaine with a street value of up to £1,300.

Ozdemir rode off with the class A drugs on his bicycle but was caught by police.

Barrister Richard Edwards, prosecuting, said Ozdemir was seen with another man in the car park of a store in Wrexham at 2am on July 15.

He quickly rode off, was stopped in Mold Road and he appeared in a panic and upset and struggled with police.

A total of 22 wraps of cocaine, some 16 grammes, valued at between £920 and £1,380 were found in his pocket.

He gave a no comment interview but in a basis of plea claimed he had done it because of threats to himself, his family and home.

Initially the case was adjourned for evidence to be called but following investigations the prosecution accepted his version of events.

It was accepted he had acted under duress caused by intimidation.

Simon Rogers, defending, said it was clear a great deal of pressure had been put on Ozdemir which caused great concern to him and his family.

The lesson had been learned that those who used drugs ran the risk of being preyed upon by those criminally more sophisticated. “That is what has happened here,” he said.

Judge Rees said at the time he was 19, had no previous convictions and was due to be sentenced for a very serious offence of possessing 16 grammes of cocaine in 23 separate wraps with intent to supply.

When arrested he was aggressive and totally uncompliant and it had taken five officers to restrain him.

He had become addicted to cocaine, ran up a £2,500 debt and his supplier made threats against his family and his home.

Ozdemir had paid £400 to the dealer for the loss of the drugs seized by the police and his mother – a totally innocent party – had paid the £2,500 drugs debt.

The judge said Ozdemir had been brought up to be a law-abiding member of society but he had exposed his vulnerability to those who took advantage of that.

“You have had a taste of the murky world of drug dealing,” he said.

But he had exposed his loved ones to potential harm too – people who loved him and stood by him “through thick and thin”.

He had learnt a significant lesson and he was being given a chance, Judge Rees said.