A drug dealer was caught out selling heroin and crack cocaine on a bike, a court has heard.

Ryan Norris, 23, was spotted by police on patrol around School Hill in Halliwell on April 18 last year.

Bolton Crown Court heard how had was found to have been carrying both cash and Class A drugs.

Prosecutor Tobias Collins said: “Out on patrol the officers witnessed the defendant receiving banknotes in return for items while on his bike at the bottom of the car park.”

Mr Collins told the court that the officers stopped Norris and found that he had been carrying £480 in cash with rocks wrapped in different coloured plastic.

The case was heard at Bolton Crown CourtThe case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

This was later found to be heroin and crack cocaine.

Norris, who has four previous convictions for seven offences, was arrested and gave no comment when interviewed by police.

But when brought before the magistrates court pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Helena Williams, defending, said that the 23-year-old deserved credit for his guilty plea and for his “unusually frank” pre-sentence report.

She admitted that there were “features of significant role” to Norris’s crime but told the court that he still showed signs of “immaturity.”

Ms Williams said that being remanded was Norris’s first experience of custody and that he had no wish to return to it.

Judge Jon Close accepted that Norris, of Nevis Grove, Astley Bridge, deserved credit for his guilty plea and “remarkably frank and honest” pre-sentence report.

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He also accepted that the 23-year-old was acting effectively as a “paid employee” for bigger scale drug dealers and had “no influence” on those above him in the chain.

But he reminded the court that police had seen him “engaging in street dealing” and was caught with as many as 29 wraps of hard drugs.

Judge Close also said he was concerned by Norris’s “almost resignation to the path you chose to walk, regardless of the consequences” and his choice to deal drugs for “easy money".

He jailed Norris for two years and six months and ordered that the drugs be seized and destroyed.

Judge Close also ordered that the money be seized.