Man jailed following stop and search in Runcorn

A man from Norris Green, Liverpool, has been jailed for drug offences following a stop check by Cheshire Police.

Nathan Bligh of Lambourne Road was arrested on Wednesday 11 May after officers executed a stop and search whilst he was driving to Runcorn.

The 30-year-old was found in possession of 134 wraps of crack cocaine and 135 wraps of heroin.

A further 6 wraps of heroin and a large quantity of cash was later found at his home address during a search by officers.

Bligh was well known to detectives for his role in county lines drug dealing, supplying large amounts of Class A drugs into the Palacefields area of Runcorn.

He became subject to a targeted county lines policing operation managed by Runcorn proactive CID with support from Merseyside police.

He appeared in Liverpool Crown Court on Friday 1 July where he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years and four months.

Police Constable Stuart Beswick of Runcorn Proactive CID said: “Bligh is responsible for a transporting and supplying large amounts of Class A drugs from Liverpool to the streets of Runcorn and in doing so, he brought misery to local residents of the Palacefields area.

“Illegal drugs can clearly have a devastating impact on drug users but also on the local communities that surround them.

“I welcome the custodial sentence that has been handed to Bligh and I hope this serves as a reminder to anyone intent on committing crime in Cheshire that we are watching, and you will be brought to justice.

“I would also like to reassure local residents that our work does not stop here, and we will continue to target county lines drug dealers operating in Runcorn and throughout Cheshire”.

We urge anyone that may have any information on suspected drug offences to please contact Cheshire police via 101.