A SCOUT leader and school cleaner’s ill-fated four-month attempt to become part of the cocaine trade ended when he was robbed.

David Howsego received and supplied Class A drugs while his wife Emma laundered some of the cash for the operation in Brightlingsea.

David Howsego was given time in jail to reflect on how he turned from a husband, father-of-three, charity runner and pillar of the community into a drug dealer.

Judith Benson, prosecuting, said: “In July 2015 he began to supply cocaine. It came to the attention of police on October 17 when police were called to a robbery following the calling of an ambulance to Brightlingsea Community Centre.”

David Howsego, 32, of Lower Park Road, thought he was being called to complete a deal but was attacked by a rival dealer protecting his turf.

When officers made the link, and after examining his phone, he was arrested.

He admitted one count of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to supply the drug.

Emma Howsego, 31, admitted one count of transferring criminal property, namely £1,200 between July 21, 2015 and July 27, 2015, by depositing cash into a bank account and transferring it to another.

She was cleared of having any part in the supply of cocaine.

They were sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday.

Ms Benson said David Howsego was “effectively the middle man”.

He said: “He had been supplied the drugs by someone else.”

The court heard Howsego, who had been a cocaine user for about a decade, had sold about 136g of the drug with a street value of several thousands of pounds.

Nneka Akudolu, mitigating for David Howsego, said: “This is a very sad day for the Howsego family.

“He was introduced to cocaine in 2006 and this led in 2015, for a relatively short period of time, to being involved in the supply.

“They were, and remain, in substantial debt.

“He was wholly unaware of the world he was exposing his family to until October 17 when he was robbed at the community centre.”

Paul Baker, mitigating for Emma Baker, said: “It is a very sad story.

“She has been extremely worried.

“She was not happy with what her husband was getting up to but she permitted her account to be used.”

David Howsego was jailed for two-and-a-half years for being concerned in the supply of cocaine and two years concurrently for drug dealing.

Emma Howsego was given a 12 month community order with 60 hours unpaid work and ten rehabilitation activity days.

Recorder Anthony Abell said: “If ever there was a case to show the perils and risks involved by the taking of Class A drugs this is that case.

“It just shows how taking drugs can lead to much more serious criminal behaviour.”