JAILED | A Huyton drug dealer has been jailed after police found cannabis plants growing next to a baby’s cot.
Officers were on plain clothes patrol in St Helens in October last year and seized a mobile phone from a man they suspected of drug dealing. The phone was analysed and found to contain many messages offering cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis for sale.
Officers attended his home address to arrest him and discovered cannabis plants growing in a bedroom cupboard next to a baby’s cot.
James Furlong, 23 years, pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, heroin and cannabis, and the production of cannabis.
On Friday 26 June, Furlong of Logwood Road in Huyton was sentenced to three years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court.
Project Medusa officers lead the force’s daily response to County Lines activity, working to intercept weapons, drugs, and illicit cash, while identifying and safeguarding individuals vulnerable to exploitation by organised crime groups.
Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Gary Stratton from Project Medusa said: “Officers turned up at his home to arrest Furlong for what they’d found on his phone. Despite already being under investigation, you can imagine the surprise when they discovered
cannabis plants growing in a cupboard next to the cot with cables surrounding it, potentially putting the baby’s life in danger of a fire!”
DCI Stratton added: "Organised crime destroys communities and the lives of those taking drugs and those who are often coerced into dealing them on behalf of these gangs.
"The gangs who operate these lines, use young and vulnerable people to do their dirty work for them and we need to put a stop to this.
“Our work to remove these people from our streets and bring them to justice will continue on a daily basis and I would ask anyone who has information about this kind of activity to come forward so action can be taken.”
The Eyes Open campaign educates young people, parents, carers and professionals about the dangers of grooming, exploitation, and the deceptive tactics used by County Lines gangs. To learn more about the signs of exploitation, please visit County Lines - Spot The Signs | Eyes Open
Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X or Facebook @MerPolCC. You can also report information via our website: https://t.co/foJ1uOqBJZ or by calling 101.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://t.co/2GPMccuTlb
Foo Fighters took to the stage at Anfield for two special shows last week �Foo Fighters took to the stage at Anfield for two special shows last week �Foo Fighters took to the stage at Anfield for two special shows last week �Foo Fighters took to the stage at Anfield for two special shows last week 🎸
Ahead of our shows in Liverpool, we were treated to a very special performance from The Bell Tower Beats of Anfield Road Primary School and THEY ROCKED ANFIELD STADIUM!!! 🤘
Thank you for braving the heat and for sharing your talents!!!
A tremendous victory in Makerfield for Andy Burnham.
This remarkable result is a world away from where Labour currently stands in the national polls.
It proves that Nigel Farage and the politics of division CAN be defeated at the next General Election.
But that will only happen if Labour changes course and reconnects with the communities it was founded to represent.
.@NYCMayor said he didn’t go to sleep til 3:45a following the #Knicks win.
“We’ve been waiting for this for 53 years, and it just feels like the entire city is alive. The biggest city in the country feels like the smallest town in the world.”