A 34-year-old drug dealer, Demitrius Wright, has been banned from Manchester City Centre. Wright was involved in selling drugs to an undercover police officer in the well-known Piccadilly Gardens area.

During an operation, Wright accepted a £20 note from an undercover cop and quickly coordinated a transaction with an associate, returning with crack cocaine. The transaction was observed by Manchester Crown Court.

The following day, near the Crafty Pig pub on Oldham Street, Wright was again involved in a drug sale to the same officer. The illicit substance was later confirmed as crack cocaine. Wright has previous convictions for drug-related offenses.

Defense arguments suggested Wright was a user rather than a dealer, caught in the cycle of addiction especially after losing his job during the COVID lockdown. Despite mitigating circumstances, Judge Ciaran Rankin emphasized the harm caused by drug activities and sentenced Wright to 32 months in prison.

Consequently, Wright received a Criminal Behaviour Order, prohibiting him from entering certain parts of the city for five years, except for legal meetings.