Man dealt drugs in front of police
A HAPLESS drug dealer was arrested after selling cannabis in front of a police officer sat in a parked car.
Jordan Huyton, of Beechtrees, Skelmersdale, admitted “you’ve got me officer, I was dealing cannabis” when challenged after being seen outside a shop in Southport.
The 24-year-old chef admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply and was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court, one week after he missed the originally scheduled hearing after getting the date wrong.
Prosecuting, Sarah Griffin said: “At 2.40pm on May 1, officers attended a Costcutter which had a post office inside,
“One officer was carrying out CCTV enquiries inside the shop, while the other officer was waiting in a car. The defendant arrived on a bicycle and paced up and down outside without going into the shop.
“The defendant was then approached by a female, Ayesha Warren, who handed him bank notes and in exchange he handed her a bag,”
The police officer got out of the car and stopped Huyton, who immediately confessed. When searched, Huyton was found to be carrying £60 cash, a Huawei phone and seven bags of cannabis.
Including the three bags sold, the drugs were worth a total of £200.
Ms Griffin said: “The other officer watched the incident on camera and stopped the female. She was cautioned for possession of cannabis.”
Huyton, who has previous convictions for theft, criminal damage and possession of drugs, failed to attend a previous hearing a week earlier and after learning a warrant had been issued, handed himself in.
Defending, Charles Lander said his client, who works at in restaurants in Ormskirk and Crosby, had not intentionally missed the hearing.
“He got confused on the dates. That’s no excuse but when he spoke to probation and they said a warrant was out he surrendered himself.”
Huyton was given a six-month suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 70 hours of unpaid work.