Three men jailed after trying to hide £10,000 of cocaine and cannabis in a tumble dryer

A gang of three men have been jailed after trying to hide £10,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis in a tumble dryer.

Thomas James, 21, Simon Parker, 29 and Luke Gibson, 21, all pleaded guilty for drug dealing and appeared for sentencing at Chester Crown Court on Friday (13 January).

The trio used a 'graft' mobile phone to secure deals around Ellesmere Port in the Cheshire West and Chester area, an investigation team had found.

Following sufficient investigation, police attempted to stop the defendants who were driving around in Citroen Berlingo on Doune Court, Ellesmere Port.

Cheshire Constabulary

The three men fled while James and Parker were detained nearby and later arrested.

After searching the vehicle, police found cash and cannabis along with a Samsung mobile belonging to Parker.

A Nokia phone was also recovered in a bush nearby where James was detained.

Further enquires meant that a warrant was used to access Gibson's address on Camden Road.

That's where officers found approximately £10,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine in his tumble dryer.

Police also discovered another mobile phone along with hundreds of snap bags and two sets of scales.

A further arrest warrant was then used at Princes Road where more than £8,000 in cash was seized from James’s bedroom along with a small amount of cocaine and 17 snap bags of cannabis.

After the phones seized were examined, officers discovered messages in relation to various drug deals.

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Police Constable Lee Ashbrook said: “This trio brought misery to communities in Ellesmere Port and I welcome the fact that they will now be behind bars for a substantial amount of time.

“As part of the investigation, we seized large quantities of drugs preventing them from finding a way onto the town’s streets.

“These drugs can bring neighbourhoods into disarray and we will do all we can to disrupt and deter those who are intent on bringing misery to our streets

“We will continue with our fight against illegal drugs in the community and we will do all we can to make our area free from illegal crime.”

James, of Sutton Way, Great Sutton received three years and eight months imprisonment.

Parker, of Joseph Groome Towers, Ellesmere Port – got four years and five months of jail time.

While Gibson, of Camden Road, Ellesmere Port was issued three years behind bars.