[A] TEENAGER who plotted to supply class A drugs to users in Kendal has been locked up for 40 months.
Connor Owens, 19, was caught red-handed by police who swooped on a town hotel in which he was staying in early May.
Officers found him in his room with 100 wraps of crack cocaine and scores of single heroin deals. These had a total street level value of £1,740.
Almost £700 cash was located in the jacket of Owens, who was also surrounded by plastic packaging.
Crucially, Carlisle Crown Court heard, a mobile phone was found in Owens’ possession. This was said to be a “dirty” pay-as-you-go device from which group texts were sent over several weeks, to Kendal area users, advertising illegal substances for sale.
Owens was sentenced today (FRI) having admitted conspiracy to supply both heroin and crack cocaine – with unknown others – between April 10 and May 3.
Recorder Julian Shaw heard none of the teen’s criminal associates had been located by police, and concluded he “was taking the fall for everyone”.
Sending Owens, of Windsor Road, Liverpool, to a young offenders’ institution, Recorder Shaw told him he had been involved in a “relatively sophisticated supply chain” for the distribution of drugs.
A spokesperson for the South Cumbria Drugs Unit said: “Unfortunately drug dealers from outside of the county still think they can get away with supplying in Cumbria. The arrest and sentence handed down to Owens today shows that this is not the case.
“We will continue to work hard to ensure we catch those involved in the supply of drugs on our streets, and it is clear that the courts also take the matter very seriously.”
