Arson investigation after car and van found ablaze

TWO drug dealers are back behind bars after one gave the other a lift home from prison despite them being banned from associating with each other.

Cheshire Police said Dean Potter, 24, and Callum Pope, 22, were slapped with Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO) in 2019 in a bid to curb their “repeated involvement” in antisocial behaviour, selling drugs and threatening behaviour in the town.

Despite this, at 10am on Friday Potter picked up Pope from HMP Risley in Warrington after his release from prison to drive him back to Runcorn.

They made it as far as Daresbury Expressway in east Runcorn where officers spotted them travelling in Pope’s grey Ford Focus.

Potter, of Victoria Road, Runcorn, and Pope, of Lime Grove, Runcorn, were later charged with breaching their CBOs.

The pair appeared at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Saturday where they pleaded guilty to the breach.

Pope was jailed for eight months and told to pay £156. Potter was given six months in prison and must pay a £128 surcharge.

Following the sentencing Chief Inspector Andrew Blizard, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit, said: “It is beyond belief that Pope would breach the terms of his CBO within minutes of being released from prison by getting a lift home from Potter.

“The pair were well aware that they were banned from associating with each other, yet they chose to get into a car together. As a result of that action both of the men are now behind bars.”

The pair’s convictions include in 2019 for conspiracy to supply the Class B drug cannabis.

AN ARSON investigation is under way after a fire involving a car inside a van in Runcorn.

Firefighters were called to St Mary’s Road in Halton Village at 12.23am on Monday, June 13, One appliance from Runcorn attended and the crew found the car and “large van” were both “well alight”.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters extinguished the blaze with two hose jets, damped down the area and allowed a “small amount of leaked fuel burn off in a controlled way”.

A thermal imaging camera found “deep seated hotspots”.

This prompted more damping down. Cheshire police said officers are investigating and anyone with information is urged to come forward.

A force spokeswoman said: “Officers were called at around 12.43am on Monday, June 13, following reports that a Mercedes van was deliberately set alight on St Mary’s Road, Runcorn.

“No-one was injured during the fire. “A number of enquiries are ongoing in the area and an investigation has begun.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Cheshire police quoting IML 1291665 online at cheshire.police.uk