Warrington drug dealer jailed

Farrell Armstrong appeared at Chester Crown Court on 8 June to be sentenced.

At an earlier hearing the 29-year-old had admitted possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A (magic mushrooms), possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class B (cannabis), possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A (MDMA), and possession with intent to supply Class B drugs (ketamine).

Plain clothed officers on foot patrol were in Loushers Lane Park in Warrington on 17 July 2024 when they spotted Armstrong sitting on a bench when another man emerged from nearby bushes. The officers saw a hand-to-hand exchange between the two men and the man then disappear back through the bushes.

The officers approached Farrell who was smoking cannabis and searched him. They discovered a quantity of cannabis separated into snap bags, £465.48 in cash and a smart phone which was regularly receiving messages during the search.

They then carried out a search at Armstrong's address and found white powders, purple pills and white crystallised balls, empty snap bags, a mobile phone and electronic scales.

Testing of the drugs recovered confirmed he possessed cannabis and a number of further items containing THC – the main active ingredient for cannabis.

The tablets found at his address were confirmed as MDMA, and white powders as ketamine. They also discovered psiolocin and psilocybin – a Class A drug which are active ingredients found in magic mushrooms. The combined value was between £2440 and £3515.

The mobile phone also implicated Armstrong with messages relating to the supply of drugs.

DC Darren Wood said:

“This fantastic piece of proactive policing caught Armstrong in the act and led to an array of drugs taken off the streets.

“The message here is clear – we are out there 24/7 spotting criminal activity and taking dealers like Armstrong off the streets in order to protect the public and improve our neighbourhoods.”