Ex-drug dealer Aidan Sayers, 23, was given a new start with the Prince’s Trust, but returned to crime and has now been jailed for six years
When Aidan Sayers received an award from the Prince’s Trust, his story of how he had been saved from a life ‘on the streets’ moved the future King to tears.
But three years later the fairytale has turned sour with Sayers, 23, now behind bars serving a six-year jail sentence for drug dealing.
Instead of continuing to turn his life around after receiving support from the Prince’s Trust, Sayers became embroiled in the murky drugs world.
He began buying and selling drugs and on the back of his ill-gotten gains Sayers lived the high life, splashing out on Rolex watches, holidays in Thailand and safari trips.
Then in August last year police received intelligence that Sayers was importing Class A and B drugs from the USA.
Officers raided his home in Darlington and found a large quantity of cocaine, MDMA, cannabis products and ‘magic mushrooms.’
Other evidence including padded envelopes, empty packets bought in bulk, sets of scales and a heat sealer, indicated a drug dealing operation.
Sayers, pictured in 2021 with the future king, who was said to have been moved to tears by the young man’s story of how he had been saved from a life ‘on the streets’ by the Prince’s Trust
At the time, Mr Sayers, who won the Educational Achiever Award, said: ‘Without the Prince’s Trust I wouldn’t be standing here obviously, I would probably be on the streets’
Police also found £38,000 cash and Rolex watches.
Sayers later admitted charges of possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, importation of drugs and money laundering.
He appeared before Teesside Crown Court in March this year and given a six-year jail term.
Then on Tuesday a court order was made for Sayers to pay back £250,000, which will help support frontline policing.
PC Michael Hanratty, from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), said police would continue to take a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to the drugs trade.
He said: ‘Drug supply often funds other areas of organised crime such as child sexual exploitation, human trafficking, modern slavery and illegal gun importation so tackling drug crime is vital.
‘Drugs and those looking to profit from these illicit activities have no place in our communities and those involved should expect an early wake-up call from us in the near future.’
For Sayers the conviction represents an opportunity wasted. He ultimately rejected the fresh start offered to him through the trust and turned to crime.
Back in 2021 he initially received a Prince’s Trust award virtually due to the pandemic, but the ceremony was hosted by Ant and Dec and featured appearances by Dame Helen Mirren, Idris Elba and Holly Willoughby.
Months later when he received his award in person from the then Prince Charles at St James’s Palace, he told how he had gone from unemployed teenager excluded from school to a young man with a home, car and job thanks to the support of the Prince’s Trust and a college tutor.
Sayers admitted charges of possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, importation of drugs and money laundering at Teeside Crown Court earlier this year
Mr Sayers, who won the Educational Achiever Award, said: ‘Without the Prince’s Trust I wouldn’t be standing here obviously, I would probably be on the streets.’
The future King Charles appeared tearful as he praised the young award winners before him, commenting: ‘I find their stories have alternatively moved me, made me laugh and cry.
‘So, I’ve come to know how proud I am of all of them, and what they represent in terms of the incredible amount of effort and determination they put into all of this and to win their awards.’
