Peaky Blinders actor shamed as drug dealer after police seize stash

AN ACTOR who appeared in BBC crime dramas Peaky Blinders and Ripper Street has been shamed in court as a drug dealer.

Peaky Blinders actor Gideon Goldstraw CAVENDISH

PEAKY BLINDER: Gideon Goldstraw had 2000 text messages linked to dealing found on his phone

Gideon Goldstraw, 48, was arrested after police spotted him using his mobile phone at the wheel of his VW Golf car and discovered he was driving while under the influence of cannabis.

The TV extra had drug paraphernalia in his vehicle including 15 snap bags, scales and a debtors book.

Up to £1,200 worth of cannabis was seized from the car and almost 2,000 text messages linked to drug dealing were found on his mobile phone.

Goldstraw, of Chorlton, Manchester admitted drug dealing but claimed he had peddled the drug to friends as a "herbal remedy" for medical ailments.

He said he sold cannabis cookies, cakes and sweets as part of his racket.

Gideon Goldstraw CAVENDISH

CREATIVE: The actor sold cannabis cookies, cakes and sweets as part of his racket

“The cannabis was originally used to treat his sick father and that is how this defendant started taking it”

Adrian Palmer

At Manchester Crown Court he admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply and drug driving but was given eight months jail suspended for two years and ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work.

The married actor and musician has worked in Manchester as a stand-up comedian and worked as an MC in club in Ibiza.

It is thought he was an extra in Season Three of Peaky Blinders which is filmed in Manchester and Cheshire.

He also played a Manchester United football fan opposite Hollywood star Brian Cox in the 2011 Sir Matt Busby biopic Theatre of Dreams.

Prosecuting, Stella Massey said: "He was pulled over and gave his name and admitted using his phone whilst driving. The police officer could smell cannabis and he said he had used it the night before. A road side screening showed he was positive for cannabis.

Gideon Goldstraw CAVENDISH

LUCKY ESCAPE: Mr Goldstraw escaped jail time

"The police officer searched the car and found several snap bags of cannabis, scales, pens, £300 in cash and a debtors book. The defendant was further arrested at the police station and took place in a further screening which showed he had 2.8 micrograms of cannabis in his system.

"216g of cannabis was seized from his vehicle with a street value of £1,000 to £2,000. Looking through his mobile phone police found 2,000 text messages with many concerning the supply of drugs. When interviewed he admitted possession with intent to supply.

"He said he used cannabis on a daily basis and he initially started buying it for his father who was suffering from Parkinson's disease and subsequently died in 2016 and the cannabis seemed to help that condition but his father's friends found out about it and started asking him for cannabis for their ailments.

"He says he makes cookies and cakes as well as sweets and the previous day he had bought £800 worth which he had left in the car and was going to buy another £300 worth which explains the money found in the car. The defendant told police that he usually buys £1,000 worth of cannabis at a time."

Gideon Goldstraw with lightsaber CAVENDISH

MISGUIDED: Mr Goldstraw initially bought weed for his dad's Parkinsons

Goldstraw was also ordered to pay £200 court costs and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Judge Anthony Cross QC told him: "The indication seems to be that you have been dealing for a considerable period of time but you have a home and you are in employment and in these circumstances I don't see why you should add to the already large prison population."

In mitigation defence lawyer Adrian Palmer said: "The cannabis was originally used to treat his sick father and that is how this defendant started taking it. Due to the amount of money it cost the defendant for petrol, snacks, that sort of thing, he gained no actual money from this.