Three men accused of being part of a plot to supply cocaine in the Barrow area have appeared in front of a judge.
Carl Sumner, 39, Robert Collins, 38, and 36-year-old Michael Fury jointly face one charge.
This alleges conspiracy to supply cocaine during a five-month period between September 24 2021 and February 23 this year.
The three men appeared together in a dock at Carlisle Crown Court this morning.
Recorder Mark Ainsworth, the judge, was told of the case’s chequered history due to industrial action by defence barristers over a number of months earlier this year.
“This is the first occasion on which all three defendants have been present together, and all three have have been (legally) represented,” said Kim Whittlestone, for the prosecution.
“The defendants have attended (court) but been unrepresented in the past.”
Sumner, of Parker Street, and Fury, of Croslands Park Road, both Barrow, pleaded not guilty to the cocaine conspiracy allegation.
In addition, Sumner pleaded not guilty to a second charge which alleges that he was in possession of cocaine, on December 16 last year, with intent to supply it to another.
A timetable for the progress of the case was set, along with a trial date. This is due to start in front of a jury on May 22 next year and, it is estimated, will last between five and seven days.
In the meantime, Sumner was remanded in custody while Fury was granted bail.
Collins, of Prescot Road, St Helens, was also granted bail. He did not enter a plea to the conspiracy allegation at the request of his barrister.
Both Collins and Fury have one condition attached to their bail — not to have any contact with their co-defendants.
