A drug dealer sold ketamine and cocaine over his mobile phone telling his contacts “it’s Jake”, a court has heard.

Jake Barrett, 33, was first stopped by police on patrol on Eliott Street in Tyldesley on October 24 2021 and found with snap bags of drugs, mobile phones and cash.

But Bolton Crown Court heard a search of his house found further evidence of drug dealing, while messages on his phone uncovered the extent of his involvement in the trade.

Beth Caunce, prosecuting, said: “There were outgoing messages saying: ‘its J’ and another saying: ‘its Jake, you got on me for ketamine a few weeks ago.”

The Bolton News: Jake Barrett had been dealing cocaine and ketamineJake Barrett had been dealing cocaine and ketamine (Image: PA)

Ms Caunce told the court how the police found around £280 worth of ketamine when they searched Barrett’s house, along with what looked like a debtors’ list, and scales with cocaine and ketamine residue on them.

The messages were sent to between 20 and 40 people and largely focused on drug sales.

Ms Caunce said that Barrett, of Wardley Road, Tyldesley had performed a “significant role” in the drugs trade and showed at least some awareness of the scale of the operation.

Brought before the courts he pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, possession of ketamine with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and being concerned in the supply of ketamine.

Joshua Bowker, defending, argued that Barrett, who has two previous convictions for two offences, had earned credit for admitting his crimes and claimed he felt “frustrated and disappointed in himself.”

He said: “He knows better than most how serious this offending is.”

But Mr Bowker pointed out that Barrett’s drug dealing was not as “sophisticated” as higher level criminals who used complicated methods like Enchrochat and coded messages to cloak their criminality.

ALSO READ: New figures show rise in drug treatment deaths in Bolton

ALSO READ: 'We have operations to tackle drug related issues' - drug deaths rise to record high in Bolton

ALSO READ: New campaign by crime charity launched to tackle drug dealing

Instead, Barrett had simply answered “it’s Jake” to mobile phone messages.

Mr Bowker also said that Barrett had committed no further crimes since his arrest 18 months ago.

Recorder Jeremy Lasker accepted that the length of time between Barrett’s arrest and him receiving his court summons “cannot really be justified” and that “the system has let him down.”

But he said that the 33-year-old’s involvement in drugs was far too serious for a suspended sentence to be justified.

Recorder Lasker jailed Barrett for four years.