JAMES FOX AND HIS SHOCKING CRACK COCAINE DEALS IN HULL
A man with a criminal history and a disturbing reluctance to comply with legal obligations was caught in Hull with a substantial quantity of crack cocaine, which he intended to sell on the streets.James Fox, aged 28, who is a convicted sex offender, demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law by refusing to register his details, citing fears of being labeled as a paedophile.
His defiance and criminal activities culminated in a dramatic police chase that ended with his arrest.
The incident unfolded when police officers in Hull identified Fox driving a Ford Focus.
When they attempted to pull him over, Fox failed to stop, leading to a pursuit through the city streets.
During the chase, Fox made a desperate attempt to escape on foot after pulling over and exiting his vehicle.
In his frantic effort to evade capture, he threw a bag onto the ground.
The bag burst open upon hitting the pavement, spilling a large quantity of white powder onto the street.
The police quickly seized the substance, which was later confirmed to be crack cocaine, estimated to weigh around 14 or 15 grams.
According to prosecutor Nick Peacock, this amount of drugs had an approximate street value of £1,500.
The police also confiscated two mobile phones from Fox.
One of these devices contained a message explicitly advertising the sale of high-purity crack cocaine, reading: "Got some nice pure if anyone needs it.
It's James." This evidence strongly indicated Fox’s involvement in drug distribution activities.
Further investigations revealed that Fox had a history of criminal behavior.
He had previously been convicted at Hull Magistrates' Court of sexual assault and was ordered on October 16, 2020, to register as a sex offender.
The court also mandated that he notify authorities of any change of address within three days.
However, checks conducted on May 19 of the previous year at his registered address, which was his mother’s home, revealed that Fox had not resided there since January of that year.
Despite being registered at that address, he was marked as wanted by the authorities.
Financial investigations uncovered that Fox had failed to register a bank account he was using on the day of his sentencing.
On October 16 of the previous year, Fox did not attend the mandatory annual registration at Clough Road police station in Hull, further breaching his legal obligations.
The situation escalated on June 26 of this year when police identified Fox driving the same Ford Focus.
When officers attempted to stop him, he failed to comply and led them on a pursuit through Hull.
The chase ended when Fox was finally pulled over, but he did not surrender peacefully.
Instead, he attempted to flee on foot and threw a bag containing drugs.
The bag burst open, spilling a significant amount of crack cocaine onto the street, which was promptly recovered and seized by the police.
In addition to the drugs, police recovered two mobile phones from Fox.
One of these phones contained a message explicitly offering crack cocaine for sale, with the phrase: "Got some nice pure if anyone needs it.
It's James." Fox later admitted to police that he refused to register as a sex offender because he believed it would label him as a paedophile.
He expressed that he would be arrested again if he tried to comply, indicating a clear defiance of the law.
Fox’s criminal record includes seven previous convictions, primarily related to drug possession, although he has not been previously convicted of drug supply.
During the court proceedings, defense lawyer Richard Butters explained that Fox had pleaded guilty early in the case.
He described Fox as a crack cocaine addict for approximately three years, who was completely out of control during that period.
Mr.
Butters detailed Fox’s dire circumstances at the time, including homelessness, overwhelming debt, and a lack of stability.
He explained that Fox was dealing crack cocaine not for profit or power but simply to survive, to pay off debts, buy food, and sustain his addiction.
The defense highlighted that Fox viewed his arrest as a turning point, stating that he was now clean and aware of the destructive path he had been on.
He expressed remorse for his past actions, acknowledging that he had lost everything—his relationship, his family, and friends—due to his drug addiction.
Prior to his crack cocaine addiction, Fox had been involved in a gardening and landscaping business with a friend, which had fallen apart as his drug dependency worsened.
In sentencing, Recorder Abdul Iqbal KC emphasized the broader implications of drug trafficking, noting that it fuels various other criminal behaviors and destroys lives.
He pointed out that Fox had been operating a supply line for Class A drugs directly from his mobile phone, expecting significant financial gain from his illegal activities.
Ultimately, Fox was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.
The mobile phones seized during his arrest will be forfeited, and the court made it clear that the drugs involved were part of a serious criminal enterprise that contributed to the wider problem of drug-related crime in Hull.
