Merseyside men jailed for drug dealing in Chester

Two men from Liverpool who were caught dealing Class A drugs in Chester have been jailed.

Jack Lydiate, 20, from Stanley Street, Liverpool appeared at Chester Crown Court on 31 March 2023 where he was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Taylor McNevin, 20, from Olney Street, Liverpool appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday 7 June 2023 where he was sentenced to 33 months.

The pair had both pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) at an earlier hearing.

Both men, however, breached Crown Court Bail and actively avoided police, delaying the sentencing.

Lydiate was arrested in Norwich in Norfolk and McNevin was located in the Everton area of Liverpool after extensive enquiries by Cheshire Police.

Lydiate and McNevin were both part of the Sonny County Lines team who were travelling from Liverpool to sell Class A drugs in Chester.

Their illegal activity came to an end when officers attended an address in Peckforton Way, Upton searching for Lydiate who was wanted on an unrelated matter.

On arrival at the address, Lydiate and another man escaped from the property out of the window.  A search was made and Lydiate was arrested nearby.

Officers entered the house in Peckforton Way and discovered McNevin and another man inside.

A search by an Alliance drugs’ dog in the nearby area found what was suspected to be drugs, McNevin and Lydiate were then arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs

Officers recovered 335 white plastic wraps confirmed to be crack cocaine, and 240 plastic wraps confirmed to be heroin.

The drugs were estimated to have a street value of around £5,750.

Subsequent enquiries led to the two men being linked to a county lines team and to them selling drugs, securing charges against them.

DS Stu Needham said:

“Thanks to this case another county lines operation has been disrupted and thousands of pounds of Class A drugs have been taken off the streets of Chester.

“I want to reassure residents that we will not stop in our efforts to stop those intent of selling illegal drugs in Chester and I hope this sends a message to others that we are watching and we will be knocking at your door if we suspected you are involved in peddling misery on the streets of our city.”