Addictions to illegal drugs such as heroin and cocaine are common in many towns and cities across the UK. Even though drug use has been declining in recent years, many individuals are still struggling with illnesses such as cocaine addiction every single day. Without treatment, these progressive illnesses will only get worse, and the affected person’s life will continue to spiral out of control.
Funding an addiction to drugs such as cocaine can be very expensive, and many addicts end up struggling with mounting debts. Some will borrow from loved ones while others will take out loans and credit cards to help them pay for essentials after spending all their disposable income on drugs. In extreme circumstances, some people with a cocaine addiction will resort to stealing in a bid to help them fund their addiction. This is what happened to Kevin Dimmock – a father of six from Lincoln.
Looking for Victims
Dimmock’s cocaine addiction led him to drastic measures in a bid to fund his habit. He started driving around the streets of Lincoln searching for individuals he could mug for money. He chose his victims carefully, targeting vulnerable women on their own and elderly people who would put up less of a fight.
After stealing from his victims, he would use their credit and bank cards at local stores. One of his victims was an eighty-year-old pensioner who was driving along on her mobility scooter when Dimmock approached from behind and stole her handbag. Another victim was a seventy-six-year-old man from whom Dimmock snatched a bank card and cigarettes.
Prosecuting lawyer Victoria Rose also spoke of a seventy-six-year-old woman who was mugged on her way to her local supermarket. Miss Rose described the incident: “It was 3pm in the afternoon. She was approached by a male. It was Kevin Dimmock. He grabbed her handbag. She struggled with the defendant and tried to stop him from getting her bag. Unfortunately, she was unable to prevent that, and she fell to the floor. The defendant ran off having taken her purse, which contained cards and cash.”
Accomplice
Miss Rose detailed another incident when Dimmock had a fifteen-year-old accomplice with him. Dimmock sat in the car outside the same supermarket while the youngster followed a lone woman before snatching her purse.
It was Dimmock’s distinctive purple car and silver roof that helped connect him to several crimes in the Lincoln area. He admitted to one charge of robbery, one charge of attempted theft, and three charges of theft. He also pleaded guilty to four charges of fraud. The fifteen-year-old pleaded guilty to theft and attempted theft and will be sentenced in the Youth Court
Dimmock’s solicitor stated that the crimes were ‘incongruous’ and said of his client, “He is a homeowner and a married man with six children. He is a trained bricklayer, and when times were good, he would earn £1,000 a week. But his life has been bedevilled by his use of unlawful substances. He had an addiction to crack cocaine. That led him to get into debts of £300 to £400 a week, and that caused him to commit these offences. It is out of character for him.”
Changing Behaviour
It is often the case that the behaviour of those with an addiction will change dramatically. Individuals that have developed an illness such as cocaine addiction will become so obsessed with their need for the drug that nothing else in their lives will matter. The affected person may find him or herself doing things not ever contemplated before addiction took hold. Many will behave in a way that might have disgusted them before they became addicted.
It is important to remember in these circumstances that addiction is an illness and that those affected have no control over it. They will continue to abuse substances even when doing so is causing harm in their lives and the lives of others.
In the case of a crack cocaine addiction, for example, the need for the drug can be very powerful. The effects of it are short-lived, though, which are often followed by a crashing comedown. The desire to avoid the comedown by taking more drugs is very strong, and it is this that generally leads to a devastating cocaine addiction that is very difficult to overcome.
Beating a Cocaine Addiction
Although cocaine addiction is notoriously difficult to treat, it is not impossible to recover if you have the right help and support. The first step is usually a programme of detoxification, where you will stop taking the drug and wait until all the chemicals and toxins have been expelled from the body.
It is common for cravings to occur for many months after detox, and some people will even experience sudden cravings years later. It is these cravings that make the relapse rate for this type of addiction so high. However, with the right rehab programme, you will learn how to address these issues and avoid a relapse in the future. Contact us here at Liberty House for more information on our services.
Source: Lincoln bricklayer funded crack addiction by mugging vulnerable victims (The Lincolnite)