'Loan shark' is back in jail after cocaine found

A MAN caught with cocaine in the street has been sent back to jail.

Convicted loan shark Jason Crocker, pictured left, has been recalled to prison for committing an offence on licence.

Crocker, aged 34, was jailed for 16 months in October last year after a judge estimated he had made about £75,000 from illegal money lending.

He admitted converting criminal property and possession of methadone, a Class A drug.

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Crocker, of Pembroke Street, Devonport, was released earlier this year – but was brought back to court for possessing cocaine.

He admitted possession of 0.43 grams of cocaine in the early hours of Saturday.

Crocker's solicitor told Plymouth Magistrates' Court he was being recalled because the offence had been committed during his licence period – between his release and the end of the 16-month term.

Lawyer Graham Kinchin said he was likely to serve 28 days in prison.

District judge Maurice Champion handed him a 28-day jail term for his latest offence, to run alongside his recall period.

Eoin McCarthy, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the latest hearing police attended a disturbance at the Octagon in Union Street in the early hours of September 15.

He added: "The defendant was stopped running away from the area. He displayed all the signs of recent drug use."

Mr McCarthy said he was searched and a bag containing cocaine with a street value of about £20 was found.

Mr Kinchin said he had forgotten the cocaine was still in the small pocket of his jeans.

He added that he had attended all his probation appointments on his licence.

Mr Kinchin added: "The signs are positive."

But he said the Home Office had decided to recall him to prison because his latest offence also involved drugs.

Mr Kinchin added he was expected to return to prison for 28 days. Crocker had admitted at Plymouth Crown Court to running an "illegal money lending business."