Two men were connected to a “drugs line” that spread heroin and crack cocaine across Bolton, a court has heard.

Nasim Ail, 20, and Nathan Crickson, 43, had both been involved in the illicit trade in hard drugs in the town throughout 2023.

But Bolton Crown Court heard how this came to an end after a police investigation and raid on Ali’s home.

Prosecutor Emmanuel Coniah said: “That was when, the crown, say, Mr Ali tried to flush the drugs down the toilet in an effort to hide the evidence.”

Mr Coniah told the court that both men were arrested, taken into custody and interviewed by the police.

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

Ali gave no comment to the questions put to him, while Crickson mostly gave no comments but admitted to links to the drugs line.

Mr Coniah say that the pair had each played a “significant role” in “street dealing” and had some awareness of the scale of the operation.

He said: “There was, perhaps maybe, an attempt to dispose of the evidence which was an aggravating factor.”

Both Ali, who has no previous convictions other than for possession of cannabis, and Crickson, who has 15 previous convictions for 25 offences eventually pleaded guilty.

Each admitted to two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

Rebecca Cauldfield, defending Ali, said that he had started doing “small jobs as a runner” for more sophisticated drug dealers, before being promoted to run the drug line.

She said: “He effectively say it as an easy way to make money.”

But Ms Cauldfield told the court that Ali, of Woodvale Avenue, Great Lever, had been “impulsive, vulnerable and exploitable” and had “gravitated, unfortunately, to the wrong groups of people.”

Joshua Bowker, for Crickson, accepted that the 43-year-old had an “unattractive record” but said none of it had been for supplying Class A drugs.

He said that Crickson, of no fixed address, was never in possession of the drugs line but instead “took decisions and directions” from it and hoped to avoid committing further crimes in future.

Mr Bowker said: “He wants to turn his life around and draw a line in the sand from this moment.”

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Deputy Circuit Judge Elliot Knopf accepted these points but reminded the court of the devastating impact drugs wrought in wider society.

He said: “Those who are involved in the supply of these highly addictive and pernicious drugs should appreciate that in the event they are apprehended there will be a heavy price to pay.”

He added: “The drugs may have an effect not just on the drugs addicts and on the families of the drug addicts.”

Judge Knopf sentenced Ali to 30 months in a young offenders institution and jailed Crickson for 38 months.