Frosty the drill rapper jailed for seven years for drug dealing in Winchester

Theo Beckford, 23, had been given a suspended sentence for similar dealing in 2018-19 but after he walked free from court he was immediately back on the street supplying drugs, a court heard.

Beckford's music glorifies drug dealing and violence and, increasingly popular in the drill music scene, he had signed a music deal with Sony.

But Winchester Crown Court heard that he was also the leader of a county line, in which Londoners move into the regions to sell drugs.

READ MORE HERE: Frosty the drug-dealing rapper walks free from court in 2020

Rupert Russell, prosecuting, said Beckford was stopped and searched by police in Winchester on February 2 last year and £100 and a black mobile phone was found, used to advertise drugs.

Beckford, of Martlet Close, Streatham, south London, pleaded guilty to dealing in crack cocaine and heroin, the third time he has been convicted of supply. Cocaine is also known as snow, hence his nickname.

He also admitted breaching a suspended sentence of two years and committing an offence whilst on licence from a previous prison term.

Shannon Revel, mitigating, said drugs had taken over Beckford's life. His involvement in violence was such that whilst filming a music video shoot, gunman had stormed in forcing the film crew to flee.

She said his music glorified criminality and was about finding "instant success. His need for validation goes some way to explaining his repeated offending and what at first glance seems to be blatant disregard for court orders."

Miss Revel said Beckford was pitching an idea to Netflix to make a documentary about county lines, not to glorify it but show its realities.

SEE ALSO: Londoner arrested for drug dealing in Winchester

"He knows his life cannot continue with him drug dealing on the streets and coming back to court. But there is promise of a productive life in the future," said Miss Revel.

Sentencing, Judge Advocate England told Beckford that she had read very moving character references that spoke of a loving son, brother and boyfriend. His father's illness is such that Beckford will probably be unable to rebuild any sort of relationship with him.

"A report said you need validation. There are many ways to get validation by legitimate means. You got validation from music but you used music to glorify drugs. You have some potential and I hope you use your experiences for good and you are able to turn your life around."

For the drug dealing she jailed Beckford for five years and eight months, adding 16 months to committing offences on licence and in breach of a suspended sentence.