Notorious criminal faces lengthy jail term

NOTORIOUS "professional criminal" David Pleasants has been warned he faces a long prison sentence for drugs offences, assaulting police and trying to escape from custody.

He was branded a "seasoned campaigner" by his own solicitor and had already been recalled to prison, a court heard.

Pleasants (49), a notorious violent criminals from Cleethorpes, admitted possessing 495g of heroin with intent to supply, and possessing 8.31g of the Class A drug on October 15.

He also admitted assaulting policeman Liam Glades, causing actual bodily harm, and attempting to escape from lawful custody, also on October 15.

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Pleasants, born in Cleethorpes, was further remanded in custody when he appeared before Sheffield Crown Court and is due to be sentenced on January 29.

Prosecutor Beverley Tait said a larger amount of heroin was discovered in a car being used by Pleasants, but the prosecution accepted that the smaller amount, found on him, was for his own use.

He was the "custodian and courier" of the 495g of heroin found in the car, and the 8.31g of the drug was his payment for carrying out that role.

He was later taken to hospital in Rotherham but assaulted a police officer and tried to escape.

Richard Hackfath, mitigating, said Pleasants had already been recalled to prison after breaching his licence following his release from his most recent prison sentence.

"He is a seasoned campaigner who is realistic about the ultimate outcome of this case," said Mr Hackfath.

He added that the defence had obtained a psychological assessment and a probation officer had spoken of "certain changes of outlook" in Pleasants since his release from his most recent spell in custody.

Judge Roger Keen QC refused to allow a pre-sentence report be made on Pleasants.

"This is a professional criminal," he said. "The probation service has got better things to do."

But he allowed an adjournment so the defence could obtain further information.

Judge Keen told Pleasants: "You know you are going to get a prison sentence. A judge will have to decide how long it's going to be."