A drug dealer from Sutton Coldfield has avoided a prison sentence following a recent change in sentencing guidelines which acted as a legal ‘loophole’.
Charlie McKeown, aged 24, was found with over 500 grams of various drugs including cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, and MDMA during searches of his vehicle and home. He was described as being involved in ‘high-level’ street dealing.
McKeown, who was arrested in February 2024, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs (cocaine and MDMA) and two counts of possession with intent to supply class B drugs (cannabis and ketamine) in June 2026.
During proceedings at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Recorder Williams KC remarked that McKeown’s case would have likely resulted in immediate imprisonment if the charging process had been completed earlier. Prosecutor Ekwall Singh Tiwana admitted that there was no clear reason for the delay in charging but noted that forensic testing and other factors have been causing longer processing times.
Due to the delay, new sentencing guidelines came into effect after 22 March 2026, allowing sentences of up to three years to be suspended, an increase from the previous two-year limit. Additionally, for sentences of 12 months or less, there is now a presumption that the sentence should be suspended.
Consequently, McKeown received a sentence of two years and eight months, suspended for two years. Alongside this, he was ordered to complete 160 hours of unpaid work and a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement starting 20 August.
The court heard that police had obtained intelligence linking McKeown to drug dealing. On 12 February 2024, officers stopped McKeown driving a Ford Fiesta and discovered cocaine packaged for supply, cannabis, cannabis resin, cash, and mobile phones. Searches of his residence uncovered further drugs and scales.
In total, police seized 41.96 grams of cocaine, 448.88 grams of cannabis, 28 grams of MDMA, and 27.6 grams of ketamine. McKeown admitted to being in debt at the time and was considered to have played a significant role in the drug operation, which involved multiple drug lines and commercial street dealing, according to the prosecutor.
McKeown, who has previous good character, committed the offences in the Walsall area. His defence solicitor, Tony Wyatt, had no further comment following the sentencing remarks from the Recorder.