Heroin and crack dealers jailed
TWO drug dealers who peddled heroin and crack cocaine in Runcorn have been sent down.
Gary Kenton, 31, previously of Ash Road, Litherland, Merseyside, and Jonathan Mason, 24, of Castle Rise, were jailed on Friday after pleading guilty to six counts relating to Class A supply in Runcorn between February 2016 and January 2017.
Kenton also admitted cannabis possession.
Sarah Badrawy, prosecuting, told Chester Crown Court how police began to unravel the drug plot on February 24 last year when plain clothes police officers watched Mason being approached by a woman on Boston Avenue.
A short time later, the officers stopped the woman, Tracey Hindley, who had wraps of heroin and crack cocaine ‘in her clenched fists’.
A DNA test of the seized items matched the defendant Mason and Miss Hindley’s mobile phone revealed a contact ‘Johnny’ who was established to be Kenton after mobile phone traffic was traced to a mast 220 metres from his home in Litherland.
Mason was arrested on January 11 and his phone also revealed contact with ‘Johnny’.
Police then watched Kenton, who left his home on Ash Road and visited Mason’s home in Runcorn, before leaving a short time later.
Mason then left the property a ● short time later with his children and partner, and police swooped, arresting him and finding 49 wraps of heroin and one wrap of crack cocaine at his home address.
Prosecutors said Kenton had dropped off the drug supplies during his visit.
Kenton was arrested on January 24. His phone revealed a ‘very significant’ amount of communication with known drug dealers.
Miss Badrawy said Mason had 16 convictions for 29 offences, six of which related to drugs.
Kenton had nine convictions for 14 offences, eight of which were for drugs including simple possession and possession with intent to supply.
Jason Smith, defending Kenton, requested credit for his client’s ● guilty plea. Philip Tully, representing the other defendant, said that Mason “accepts what he did was wrong.”
Kenton and Mason, who appeared by video link from HMP Altcourse, snickered to each during parts of the hearing and their previous court appearance.
His Honour Judge Simon Berkson, presiding, sentenced Kenton to five years and five months in prison and Mason to three years.
Kenton had admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack and one of possessing cannabis.
Mason pleaded guilty to supplying heroin, supplying crack cocaine and two of possession with intent to supply those substances.