Widnes man jailed following drugs warrant

John Geraghty appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday 15 June, where he was sentenced to five years and four months imprisonment.

The sentencing comes after the 65-year-old, of Blundell Road, Widnes, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a class A drugs (cocaine) and two counts possession of class B drugs (amphetamine and cannabis).

The court was told that officers from Widnes Beat Management Team, who were in the midst of a week of intensified proactive neighbourhood policing activity, conducted a section 8 warrant at Geraghty’s home in the Blundell Road just before 7am on Thursday 3 March.

During a search of the property, officers found a block of white pounder in the kitchen area that was hidden under a blanket. Also found in the kitchen was carrier bag containing further amounts of white powder, snap bags, amphetamine tablets inside the cupboards and a bag of cannabis in the window. 

Officers also found several customer lists and records of payments, a set of scales and approximately £450 in cash, including some found hidden inside DVD cases.

As a result of these finds, Geraghty, who was also inside the address at the time of the warrant, was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.

In interview, he would answer "no comment" to all questions put to him. Despite this, he would plead guilty at his first appearance in court.

Sergeant Phil Pickering, of the Widnes Beat Management Team, said:

"Whilst we gave Mr Geraghty quite the rude awakening, our search resulted in us finding well over £20,000s worth of class A and B drugs and cash across his home - it was clear we were dealing with a key player in the local drug trade.

"We treat all reports of drug dealing and illegal activity extremely in Widnes with the utmost seriousness. We regularly conduct week-long operations of intensified action and we aim to leave no stone unturned when it comes to ridding our streets of illegal substances.

"With that in mind, we need your help identifying those involved in criminality so we can take the appropriate action. If you have any concerns about drug dealing, or any suspicious or illegal activity taking place in your area, do not hesitate to get in touch with your local Beat officers and let us take it from there."

Information can also be passed on to police anonymously via CrimeStoppers, who can be contacted on 0800 555 111.