Chester drug dealer who tried swallow class A drugs to evade justice has been jailed.

A Chester drug dealer who attempted to swallow a quantity of class A drugs to evade justice has been jailed. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Andrew Campbell, of Fairford Road, Chester, was handed a prison sentence of four years and three months at Chester Crown Court on Monday 21 January. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The 38-year-old had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs (heroin and cocaine). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

During the sentencing hearing the court heard that plain clothed officers had witnessed Campbell dealing drugs in the Dingle Bank area of the city on Wednesday 27 September 2018. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Campbell was subsequently detained and searched at the scene, where officers seized a mobile phone from him. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Due to Campbell’s demeanour, a decision was made to conduct a more thorough search once he had arrived in custody. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, while officers were walking him back to the police car he suddenly stopped engaging with them and started to chew. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Officers immediately restrained Campbell and recovered a number of wraps of cocaine and heroin, which he had attempted to swallow. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Campbell was later questioned about the drugs in police custody, where he claimed that they were for personal use. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, as a result of all the evidence gathered against him, he was subsequently charged with drug dealing offences and pleaded guilty to the charges. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Following his sentencing, Detective Constable Paul Harrison, of Chester CID, said: “Class A drugs have a hugely detrimental impact on our communities. They cause widespread misery and removing those involved in drug dealing from our city and the rest of Cheshire is of paramount importance. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I hope that the sentence handed to Campbell reaffirms the message that drug dealing in Chester and the wider Cheshire area will not be tolerated.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

If you information regarding drug dealing in your community please contact Cheshire Constabulary on 101, give the details online via https://www.cheshire.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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