A man has been jailed after he was spotted inhaling a blue balloon while driving by police officers.
When Keaton Ormerod-Beck, 25, was pulled over on the A5117 by the unmarked police car, officers spotted a large quantity of spent nitrous oxide canisters littered throughout his vehicle. They decided to search the vehicle, and discovered a quantity of cannabis resin.
The resin was estimated to have a street value of up to £6,000, and Ormerod-Beck was arrested at the scene. Later in the day officers visited an address and a storage unit linked to Ormerod-Beck.
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There they found packaging for two kilos of cocaine, thousands of pounds of cash, drug paraphernalia and 48,000 nitrous oxide canisters with an estimated wholesale value of approximately £61,400.
Ormerod-Beck was then charged with being concerned in the supply of class B drugs (ketamine), being concerned in the supply of class A drugs (cocaine), possession with intent to supply of class B drugs (cannabis), possession with intent to supply of class C drugs (nitrous oxide) and not being in proper control of a vehicle.
The 25-year-old, from Chester Road in Ellesmere Port, pleaded guilty to all charges at Chester Crown Court today (Wednesday, June 28) and was jailed for five years and four months.
Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Stuart Needham, of the CID Proactive Team, said: “Ormerod-Beck showed no regard for the law and put other road users at serious risk.
“Thankfully, our officers PC Swash and PC Davies stopped him in his tracks before he caused any further damage and, in the process, uncovered thousands of pounds worth of illegal drugs in his possession.
“This case shows the importance of the police’s power to stop and search people they suspect to be breaking the law.
“Ormerod-Beck was previously unknown to the police and tried to operate under the radar, but thanks to stop and search powers and the due diligence of our roads policing officers, a dangerous drug dealer is now behind bars and a significant amount of illegal drugs have been removed from our streets.
“I welcome the sentence handed to Ormerod-Beck today and I hope it demonstrates that drug dealing in Ellesmere Port or elsewhere in Cheshire will not be tolerated.
“While this investigation has now concluded, our fight against illegal drugs, and those who supply them, continues.
“Intelligence supplied by members of the public is crucial to this fight and I urge anyone with any information about suspected drug related activity in their community to get in touch.
“You will be listened to, and we will investigate the matter.”
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