A drug dealer who was on the run for twelve years has been jailed – after he was found working in a REHAB centre in Gibraltar.
Stephen Holmes fled the country in 2001 after cops found £40,000 worth of ecstasy, cocaine, speed and cannabis resin in his home.
The 55-year-old travelled the world while at large but he was found by police earlier this year working in a drug, alcohol and gambling rehab centre in the Mediterranean.
Cops had found a bin-full of 1,321 ecstasy tablets, as well as 232g of cocaine with a 70 per cent purity, 118.75g of cannabis resin and just under 200g of speed in a kitchen bin.
Holmes pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply drugs in September 2000 but fled the UK and did not show up at court on August 3, 2001.
He was found earlier this year following the execution of a European warrant at the Bruce’s Farm rehabilitation centre, run by the Gibraltar Care Agency.
Holmes, of Cheltenham, Glos, was jailed for seven years at Gloucester Crown Court on Monday.
Judge Jamie Tabor QC told him: “Since you have run away, I have seen compelling evidence that you have turned your life around and you have now been acting for the public good.
“It shows there is a good man inside you. But I have to show that you cannot benefit from running away and coming to the court and saying ‘I am a good man’.
“I can consider remorse and that was demonstrated when you started working as a carer for the very people you were supplying drugs to all those years ago.”
