A JURY in the trial of people who deny involvement in a major county lines drugs supply plot has retired to consider its verdicts.
Carlisle Crown Court has heard how 13 people have already admitted being part of a plot during which heroin and crack cocaine were trafficked from the Liverpool area into Cumbria.
Local residents are said to have helped by sub-dealing and allowing addresses to be used, while a number of key mobile phone numbers are said to have sent out mass messages to would-be customers advertising illicit substances for sale.
But two Carlisle residents Daniel Brennan, aged 32, Sharnee Dawkins, 29, and 19-year-old James Bailey, of Skelmersdale, each deny a charge alleging conspiracy to supply class A controlled drugs.
Dawkins denies having any knowledge of illegal substances which were found in a bread bag at her city home. Brennan admits being a drug user. But, giving evidence, he told the jury he did not send out “text bombs” advertising drugs for sale, nor break into the Longtown home of a conspirator while she was in custody, as alleged.
“I am nothing to do with this,” he said.
In his evidence, teenager Bailey also denied having any role in it.
After closing speeches were delivered by barristers in the case, and Judge Peter Davies’ summing-up of the evidence, jurors this afternoon (WED) retired to begin their deliberations.
