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09
Jan
Ripon ‘street dealer’ avoids jail
A Ripon man convicted of intending to deal cannabis and cannabis products has avoided jail.
Junjie Liang, 25, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday (January 8) for sentence after admitting two counts of possession with intent to supply class B drugs on November 27, 2025.
The case was previously adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared, but it was not read out in court.
Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told the court police were patrolling Knaresborough in an unmarked police car at around midnight on March 31, 2024.
They drove past a car parked at an entrance to a farm near the A658 roundabout. Due to the time of night and a recent spate of burglaries in the area, police became suspicious of the vehicle and decided to turn around to speak to the driver.
However, as police approached the car, it fled.
The court heard the car turned right at the roundabout, as if heading towards Knaresborough, before quickly driving back around the roundabout towards the A658.
When the car eventually stopped, police identified Liang as the driver and found another named male in the car.
Ms Tyrer said:
The defendant told police they had been to the cinema and were going home. He said he got lost and that was why he changed direction [on the roundabout]. Police checks showed the vehicle had no insurance and officers could smell cannabis [in the car].
Officers began searching the car when Liang told them there was an ounce of cannabis and some edibles in a bag between the named passenger’s feet.
Police found several bags of “green herb matter” inside the car, as well as a number of cannabis vape pens, edibles, gummies and scales.
Both men were arrested and their homes were searched. Inside Liang’s bedroom, police found £3,400 in cash, as well as more cannabis, edibles and scales.
The court heard the named man - Liang's co-accused – previously admitted to drug charges, but the Crown conceded Liang led the operation.
Liang gave no comment when he was interviewed by police.
Ms Tyrer said the Crown believed the defendant was a “street dealer” who dealt drugs straight to people who had contacted him.
She added:
The defendant is the main person in control of the operation and what happens to those who request the drugs.
Liang is of previous good character.
‘I have rarely come across someone as frightened as this’
John Goodwin, defending, told the court Liang is “not a man who comes before the court and treats this lightly”.
“He does not make any excuses for his behaviour”, he added.
The court heard some of the cash seized by police was gifts from Chinese New Year.
Liang, of King Edward Road, has stopped using cannabis – which Mr Goodwin said was the root cause of the drug-dealing – and has made life changes to ensure he maintains his abstinence.
Mr Goodwin said:
He really, genuinely seems to be remorseful. Mr Liang said he is ashamed and has disgraced his family. He hangs his head in shame.
The defendant now has a good job and assists his parents at their takeaway business at weekends.
Liang has distanced himself from people he was associated with at the time of the offending, who “do not believe there is anything wrong with using cannabis”.
Mr Goodwin also said when Liang last appeared in court, he “took full responsibility” for the drug-dealing operation despite giving a “no comment” interview.
He added:
When Mr Liang was arrested, he sought representation… he was advised to make no comment. It seems to have become an orthodox that solicitors turn up and tell people not to give a comment. Mr Liang says he can’t really understand the advice he was given.
Liang believes the conviction could be a good thing, Mr Goodwin said, as he may not have otherwise stopped.
“This will keep him on the straight and narrow”, he added.
The defence told the magistrates:
I would say he is very low risk [of re-offending].
I have been a solicitor for more than 40 years and I have rarely come across someone as frightened as this. I ask you to give him a chance to show he can make recompense.
'We believe there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation'
Passing sentence, the chair of the magistrates’ bench told Liang:
This is a very serious matter. It crosses the custody threshold… but we recognise your guilty plea, your remorse and your previous good character.
Liang was sentenced to 26 weeks' custody, suspended for 24 months. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, as well as pay a total of £239 to the court.
The chair added:
We believe there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and the impact going to prison would have your hardworking family.
The magistrates also ordered the drugs and drug paraphernalia seized be destroyed, and the £3,400 cash be forfeited.
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