A DEALER found with a phone which sent out 6,500 drug marketing texts in two months went through a personality change after he was stabbed in the head, a court heard.

Euan Davis, 25, was found to be carrying the phone after he was arrested for an unrelated matter in February.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the phone had previously housed a SIM card used to send out messages advertising the sale of class A drugs.

Richard Potts, prosecuting, said the phone was linked to the ‘Anonymous’ drugs line.

He said: “It shows during the period of November 2020 to January 11, almost 6,500 text messages were sent out to contacts, the majority of them being bulk marketing messages, averaging about 124 messages a day.

“Essentially what it comes down to, having been arrested for an unrelated matter, it transpired Mr Davis had been involved in the marketing of drugs.”

He added: “He was found to have possession of over £1,000 and there’s an application that be forfeit under the Misuse of Drugs Act.”

The court heard Davis, from Clacton, has nine convictions for 14 offences, including for the possession of knives, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear, false imprisonment and assault.

He admitted possession with intent to supply heroin and cocaine.

Barry Gilbert, mitigating, said Davis had a set of “slightly unusual” circumstances after he was stabbed in the head while leaving a gym in March.

He said: “His father tells me his demeanour has changed completely, his personality.

“He used to be quite loud, outgoing and dare I say difficult, he is now basically frightened to go out.

“The essential reason his father came with him [to court] this morning is he needed to support him because the effect of this attack, the physical and emotional effects, have been enormous.”

Mr Gilbert said his client had committed the offences after he was “press ganged” into selling drugs to support a debt he accrued from taking drugs himself.

He called on Judge Christopher Morgan to give Davis a chance, pointing out his client had found honest work and is being supported by his family.

Judge Morgan called for more information on the alleged offence which led to his arrest in February before proceeding to sentence.

Davis will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, August 27.