Dad caught with drugs hidden in underwear jailed for 46 months
ADAD was caught with heroin and cocaine in his underwear after he was arrested in Primark.
Reece Williams was chased into the store by police after being spotted selling illicit substances on the streets of Liverpool city centre.
Despite this, he carried on his illegal activities and was then found carrying a backpack full of drugs in Southport.
Liverpool Crown Court heard the 21-year-old was “observed engaging in a drugs transaction” by officers near to St George’s Hall on February 10 last year.
Graham Pickavance, prosecuting, described how Williams, of no fixed address, fled from PCs into St John’s Shopping Centre, but was eventually caught inside the Church Street branch of Primark.
He was initially found to be in possession of a cannabis joint, a folding lock knife, £160 in cash and an iPhone. Then, while being transported into custody, he confessed that he had class A drugs hidden in his underpants.
Following a further search, 96 bags of cocaine and 28 wraps of heroin – worth a combined £1,240 – were recovered.
Williams’ phone was also analysed and revealed messages indicating that he had been involved in supply of cannabis over the previous month.
He was subsequently released on bail, but on June 22, 2023 was seen passing a wrap of drugs to a customer on Talbot Street in Southport. It was then discovered that the defendant had two wraps of cocaine stashed in his mouth, as well as one of heroin.
Police also found £245.20 of cash in his pockets, while a backpack he was carrying contained a further £520, a set of scales, 13 wraps of cocaine valued at £130 and 46 wraps of heroin worth an estimated £400.
Williams had been due to stand trial in December last year but failed to appear, with his previous convictions including offences of possession of cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply, possession of a bladed article, threatening behaviour, being carried in a stolen vehicle and failing to comply with a community.
Charles Lander, defending, told the court his client had missed his date in front of a jury as he had to care for younger siblings, while he has also suffered from mental health issues which left him “hearing voices”.
He added: “He is still 21, and this is his first time in an adult prison.
“He is a father himself. This has been a difficult period, being away from his family.
“He has issues with nerve damage because of taking nitrous oxide and issues with other addictions. In his youth his friend passed away, and that contributed to him leaving school and involving himself in crime.”
Williams admitted two counts of possession of heroin with intent to supply, two charges of possession of cocaine with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession of a bladed article in a public place and breaching court bail.
Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for 46 months.
Sentencing, Judge David Aubrey KC said: “You were working on behalf of other persons.
“There was some pressure in consequence of the fact that you had a debt that you owed to others.”