Dealer who had ‘flooded’ estate with Class A drugs locked up

A“WELL known” drug dealer who flooded a new town estate with heroin and crack cocaine is behind bars after police stopped him on a supply run.

Nathan Bligh, 30, of Lambourne Road, Norris Green, Liverpool, was arrested following a vehicle stop check en route to Runcorn.

Cheshire Police said Bligh had 134 wraps of crack cocaine and 135 wraps of heroin, with a further six wraps of heroin found at his home address along with a “large quantity of cash”.

A force spokeswoman said Bligh was “well known” to detectives for his role in “county lines” drug dealing, specifically for supplying “large” amounts of Class A illicit substances in Palacefields, Runcorn.

His activities drew the attentions of a targeted policing operation managed by Runcorn CID and supported by Merseyside colleagues.

Bligh appeared at Liverpool Crown Court where he pleaded guilty.

A spokeswoman for the court said Bligh admitted to, and was sentenced by the judge for, the following charges: being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug heroin, simple possession heroin and possessing with intent to supply crack cocaine.

He was initially charged also with possession with intent to supply heroin, possessing criminal property and being concerned in the supply of heroin.

Bligh was sent down for three years and four months.

Following Bligh’s sentencing, PC Stuart Beswick, of Runcorn Proactive CID, said: “Bligh is responsible for transporting and supplying large amounts of Class A drugs from Liverpool to the streets of

Runcorn and in doing so, he brought misery to local residents of the Palacefields area.

“Illegal drugs can clearly have a devastating impact on drug users but also on the local communities that surround them.

“I welcome the custodial sentence that has been handed to Bligh and I hope this serves as a reminder to anyone intent on committing crime in Cheshire that we are watching, and you will be brought to justice.

“I would also like to reassure local residents that our work does not stop here, and we will continue to target county lines drug dealers operating in Runcorn and throughout Cheshire”.

Anyone with any information about suspected drug offences are urged to call Cheshire Police on 101 or report information anonymously via https:// crimestoppers-uk.org/.