Drug dealer jailed after ‘police’ Tasers found in raid
A HEROIN dealer who was found in possession of two “torch Tasers” in a drugs raid has been jailed.
Joshua John George Cooney, 25, was arrested at an address in Evington, Skelmersdale, and when officers searched the property they found a torch marked “police”.
It turned out to be a disguised “firearm Taser” which was in a working condition, a court heard.
A similar device was found in the kitchen along with an extendable baton.
Prosecutor David Clarke told Preston Crown Court: “What seems to be borne out by the papers is that clearly some serious incident had taken place involving the defendant’s brother, who apparently had been stabbed.
“Items were then brought round and were there perhaps to help for potential self-defensive purposes.”
The court heard that a more detailed search of the house uncovered three clear bags of brown powder which turned out to be heroin.
Ketamine and two mobile phones with drugrelated messages were also seized.
Mr Clarke said Cooney was dealing drugs on a “fairly low-level basis”.
Cooney pleaded guilty to possessing two prohibited weapons, possessing heroin with intent to supply, possessing heroin and a Bail Act offence.
He has 13 previous convictions for 17 offences, including drugs supply in 2013 and drug driving in 2019.
Anthony Longworth, defending, said: “It’s clear there had been an incident involving his brother.
“It’s clear that these were placed in defensive positions rather than offensive position within the house.
“It’s not acceptable by any way, means or form.
“He’s going to jail. He knows he is going to jail.
“He is 25 and is not going to find it easy. He became a father for the first time last month.”
Cooney, of Amity Street, Liverpool, was jailed for three years, three months.
Sentencing, Judge David Potter told Preston Crown Court: “You were a dealer peddling class A drugs in your possession for onward supply to your small network of customers.
“You had torches which had the word ‘police’ on them.
“You knew them to be prohibited weapons and I’m satisfied that if the need arose they could be activated and, at the very least, an arc of electricity demonstrated to any threat that you there and then perceived.”