Southport father of two sentenced for drugs offences

Shaun Esterhuizen, 40 of the Promenade Southport, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply at Liverpool Crown Court earlier this month and has now been sentenced to 27 months in prison.

The father of two was found asleep at the wheel of his VW with the engine running, in Elm Road Southport in November 2019.

He had in his possession 25 wraps of cocaine worth approximately £245, as well as loose cocaine powder and crack cocaine stone.

A mobile phone was also recovered from the vehicle which was found to have messages linked to the purchase and supply of drugs.

Originally from South Africa, Esterhuizen was homeless at the time of the offence following a split from his long-term partner.

Jim Smith, defending, said Esterhuizen’s life had been “ripped apart” by his drug use, which started after a split with his long-term partner and deaths in his family, and led him to the brink of suicide.