A drug dealer from Bolton has been given a lengthy jail sentence – while another has been given a chance by the courts.

Christopher Warke was twice caught by police in a car with heroin and cocaine.

On the second occasion, William Barnes was found with him.

Bolton Crown Court heard the pair admitted having drugs with the intention of selling them.

Warke was first spotted by police in a vehicle on Chorley Old Road.

Officers requested the driver, Warke, pull over and he admitted he had smoked cannabis.

He was later found to be wanted by police for failing to attend court on a drugs matter.

Warke was also found with 54 wraps of diamorphine and 64 of cocaine.

In October that year, Warke was found drug dealing with Barnes.

Anna Chestnutt, prosecuting, said: “Police saw a vehicle in the Johnson Fold area.

“It was registered to a Scottish address.

“It was insured for a single day to an address in Bolton.

“Officers were suspicious.

“The vehicle was then seen to draw back on itself, which is associated with drug dealing.

“The vehicle failed to stop and drove dangerously for five minutes.

“Mr Barnes exited the vehicle and ran off.

“After a brief pursuit Mr Barnes walked back and volunteered that he was in possession of drugs.

“Mr Warke said he had a black phone which he could use in case he got remanded.”

On that occasion 53 wraps of heroin and 59 wraps of cocaine were found.

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Barnes, 25 and from Lansbury Street, Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, appeared in court to be sentenced after admitting being in possession of heroin and cocaine with the intention of supplying them.

Warke, 37 and from Colombia Road, Queens Park, Bolton, admitted two counts of the same offences.

The court heard in relation to the incident in October 2022, Warke had already been jailed for eight months for dangerous driving and had also been given a sentence of 32 months for drug dealing.

The court heard Barnes had no previous convictions.

Hannah Forsyth, defending Warke, said he had been on methadone and had started a family but had relapsed onto heroin.

She said: “He got involved in his drug dealing to fund his addiction.

“It can’t excuse the offences but it provides an explanation for it.”

Ronan Maguire, defending Barnes, said he had moved to Dunbartonshire and had started a new job.

Judge Nicholas Clarke said: "The position of the two of you is strikingly different."

He jailed Warke for 54 months and gave Barnes a sentence of two years suspended for two years and ordered him to do 150 hours of unpaid work and fined him £1,000.