Drug ringleader sent down
A RUNCORN man masterminded a drug dealing network by targeting customers with text messages offering cannabis.
Ringleader Dean Potter, 21, sent messages to known users before despatching associates Callum Pope, 19, and Louis Costes, 22, to deliver the illegal drugs.
The gang was busted by a police investigation into drug dealing around the Victoria Park and Rock Park areas between, with detectives uncovering a stream a regular messages sent by Potter between February 2016 and October 2018.
Officers investigating the group simultaneously raided their homes in the early hours of July 16, finding cannabis in the homes of Potter and Pope. All three were subsequently arrested and charged with drug dealing offences.
At Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, August 14, Potter and Pope both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis. One month later, Costes admitted a charge of being concerned in the supply of the class B drug.
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The trio returned to court to be sentenced on Monday, December 2.
Ringleader Potter, of The Decks, was jailed for two years and 99 days and handed a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).
Pope, of Lime Grove, was released after the judge ruled that he had spent enough time in custody, with him having been held on remand since July.
Costes, of Antons Close, Halewood, Liverpool, was given a community order and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and carry out up to 35 days of rehabilitation activities.
DS Rob McLoughlin, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit, said: “I would like to thank the officers involved in the lengthy and complex investigation into the drug dealing activities of Dean Potter, Callum Pope and Louis Costes for all their hard work in securing these convictions.
“Illegal drugs have a detrimental impact on our town, damaging both the lives of those who use them and the wider community who suffer from the crimes linked to them.
“Removing illegal drugs and those who supply them from our communities is a constant goal at Runcorn LPU and the rest of Cheshire Constabulary.
“I am delighted that Potter, who masterminded the criminal enterprise, is now behind bars and unable to blight our town with drug dealing activities.
“Pope and Costes sold drugs on the streets for him.
“All three of them are young men and I hope that now they have been sentenced for their crimes they reflect on the lives they have been leading and change their ways.”
Potter and Pope will also face a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at a future date regarding items seized from their homes when they were raided.
DS McLoughlin added: “While this investigation has now concluded our fight against organised criminals continues and I urge anyone with any information about suspected drug related activity in their community to get in touch. You will be listened to and we will investigate the matter.”