A FORMER Leyton Orient Football Club trainee who turned to a life of crime has been jailed for dealing drugs worth more than £2,000 in Basingstoke.

Deqwan Olusamokun, of Verney Road, Camberwell, London appeared at Winchester Crown Court today (October 11) after pleading guilty to two charges of possession with the intent to sell class A drugs and one count of being in possession of a bladed article.

The court heard that on September 9, the 20-year-old was seen in the Popley area walking up to a “known local drug dealer” by police.

Officers followed the defendant, who got in a taxi and followed the driver until he came to a traffic light in Basing View, where the arrest was made.

When arrested Olusamokun was found to have 66 wraps of heroin and 138 wraps of crack cocaine hidden in the waistband of his trousers, totalling a street value of £2,050.

READ: When the arrest was made >>

He was also found to have more than £1,000 cash on him.

Prosecutor Siobhan Lesley said: “Mr Olusamokun pleaded to officers that they were applying the handcuffs to tight, but when they loosened them, he tried to make a run for it but was quickly caught.”

When he was apprehended officers could see a “hunters’ knife” sticking out of his trousers.

The court heard that as a result of these offences Olusamokun had breached the terms of a crime prevention order placed on him for a similar offence in 2017.

Defending Olusamokun, Cordelia Kanife, said that defendant’s life of crime had started at the age of 16, after the “disintegration of his family structure” and “older men in the community preyed on him”.

She said: “This is how he became involved and from a young age he was used as a courier for these older men.”

The court heard how Olusamokun is a keen footballer and had up until he became involved with drugs been a trainee at Leyton Orient and wished to become a football coach.

However, the court heard that “no matter what he did” the people he was running the drugs for would find him.

Miss Kanife added: “He was used as a pawn in this operation.

“He said he did not wish to continue with this lifestyle that he found himself in, but if he did not do as he was told his life would be in danger.”

However, sentencing Judge Keith Cutler, said that the defendant was no longer a “little boy” and that “act did not work anymore.”

Judge Cutler added: “You are a large and physically fit man who can look after yourself. You have had many opportunities, so why do you carry on carrying knives and carry on dealing drugs?”

Olusamokun was sentenced to three years and nine months in jail.