Two Runcorn cannabis dealers who were caught after the car they were in was linked to alleged gang activity have been sent down.
Louis Maddock, 22, of Halsall Close, Brookvale, and Connor Pill, 18, of Tildesley Crescent, Weston Point, were sentenced at Warrington Crown Court on Monday having been were arrested following a police pursuit in Runcorn on August 24.
Kate Meredith-Jones, prosecuting, told the court that police had spotted a Rover that had been ‘involved in an alleged incident involving gangs’ at 6.15pm that day.
The vehicle failed to stop for officers, who set off in pursuit.
Police received a call to say the car had been abandoned in The Glen, Palacefields, and that three men had been seeing running off.
Upon arriving at the scene, an officer searched beneath an underpass and saw Maddock run to some woods.
He chased the suspect and used incapacitant spray to subdue him.
Maddock’s jogging bottoms were found to have 27.5 grams of cannabis, divided into 15 deals with an estimated value of £300. An officer found a further 1.8 grams worth £20 on him and a scale and grinder at his house.
A police dog handler arrived and set her dog loose to discover Pill, who was ‘sweating and out of breath’ in a field.
Pill had 3.3 grams of cannabis worth an estimated £60 and a mobile phone containing incriminating text messages.
The duo gave ‘no comment’ in interview.
They later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis but not guilty to a charge of possession of an offensive weapon.
Judge Tina Landale, presiding on Monday, cleared them of the latter offence after no prosecution evidence was offered.
The court heard Maddock had a variety of previous convictions including section 47 assault, shoplifting, burglary, taking a vehicle without consent and ‘possession of cannabis’.
Maddock was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2013 for supplying cannabis. He had been among 28 defendants convicted as part of Cheshire police’s largest ever cannabis crackdown – Operation Gram.
David Rose, defending, said Maddock was ‘still very young’, had pleaded guilty to the cannabis charge, ‘bitterly regrets his actions’ and has a seriously ill grandmother who he is close to.
Pill had one past conviction for three offences, none relating to cannabis, for which he had received a 12-month referral order.
Judge Landale sent Maddock down for 18 months in prison and Pill to 12 months in a young offenders institution.
They must also pay a victim surcharge.
Sentencing the pair, Judge Landale said: “You two had a drug dealing operation going on and when the police started to chase, you have had drugs on you and made significant efforts to get away from the police.
“They were successful in locating you.
“You Mr Maddock were found with your telephone constantly ringing.
"You had drugs hidden in your trousers and your jacket.”
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/