Man caught with heroin in police custody jailed for five years

A man caught in possession of class A drugs while in police custody has been jailed.

Conor Bassnett, of Southwood Road in Liverpool, had 93 wraps of heroin in his JD sports bag following a search by officers.

The 27-year-old claimed the drugs, valued at an estimated £1120, were for his own personal use.

He had initially been detained at Birchwood shopping centre in Warrington at 1.40pm on Friday 4 June 2021 following his arrest for an unrelated matter that he was subsequently not charged with.

Bassnett pleaded not guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and was convicted by a jury following a two-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday 10 June to five years and six months imprisonment.

Detective Sergeant Tom Hall, of Warrington’s proactive team, said: “Unfortunately Bassnett is well known to police officers in Warrington due to his prolific offending.

“On this occasion he was found to clearly be involved in the supply of class A drugs despite his claim the heroin was for his own personal use.

“Thankfully the jury could see this was a lie and he is now beginning his sentence in prison away from the streets of Warrington.”