Drug dealers from Bolton alongside another man plotted to flood the streets with heroin and crack cocaine before being caught when the BMW they were in was pulled over by police.
Anthony Griffin, 62, and Tracie Barnes, 42, both from Bolton, together with Sean Burton, 19, of Wolverhampton, had conspired together to supply Class A drugs in the Barrow area.
But their plot was uncovered when police stopped a BMW they had been travelling in on Monday July 25 last year and found it to be filled with wraps of illegal drugs.
A spokesperson for South Cumbria Community Serious & Organised Crime Unit said: “Our officers proactively work to identify and challenge anyone suspected of being involved in drug supply in the county.
“On this occasion, the actions of the three defendants were brought to light by a quick-thinking officer who identified reasons to be suspicious and was able to stop the vehicle containing a significant amount of Class A drugs and money inside.”
The trio were brought before Preston Crown Court this week after each admitting to their role in the conspiracy.
The court heard how an officer had first seen them acting suspiciously on Raglan Road, Barrow, last July.
Officers stopped them in a BMW on the A590 near Witherslack and found the three defendants in the car, with Griffin in the driver’s seat.
On searching the car, they found £1,500 near where Burton was sitting who also had 30 wraps of heroin.
In the footwell where Barnes was sitting, officers found a bag containing 19 individual wraps of heroin, another bag containing 30 wraps of heroin and a single wrap of crack cocaine.
They also recovered a single wrap of brown powder and some cannabis.
The overall amount of Class A drugs recovered from the vehicle amounted to 68.6 grams, with an estimated street value of £3,000-£6,000, while a knife was also found from the vehicle.
Police found two phones Burton appeared to have on him, which were used almost exclusively to send out bulk messages advertising the sale of heroin and crack cocaine, while a phone recovered from Barnes showed messages between the three arranging the trip to Barrow, for which Griffin would be paid £100 as driver.
Another phone recovered from Griffin showed he had travelled several times to Wolverhampton to collect Burton and take him to Liverpool, for which he was paid £250 per trip.
It also showed he was purchasing crack cocaine for Barnes and allowing Burton to stay over at his home.
Brought before the courts, Burton, of Leasowes Drive, Wolverhampton admitted to two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and to possession of a knife.
He was sentenced to two years in prison.
Barnes, of Thistleton Road, Bolton, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was sentenced to 25 months in prison.
Griffin, of Duncombe Road, Bolton, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
He was sentenced to 22 months in prison.
ALSO READ: A 'crumbling system' and the crimes that shook Bolton
ALSO READ: Gang plotted to flood streets with Class A drugs
ALSO READ: 'Vast cuts' see nearly half of Bolton trials delayed
A police spokesperson said: “Class A drug use wrecks communities and Cumbria Police is committed to stopping and bringing to justice those people who seek to come to the county to prey on vulnerable addicts.”
Officers have appealed for anyone concerned about drug crime in their areas to get in touch by calling 101.
Alternatively, witnesses can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article