Two Blackpool men were involved with members of County Lines conspiracy to sell heroin and cocaine in resort, court told

Jamie Dickson and Dale Harrison were the final defendants to be sentenced as part of Operation Mallard - a Lancashire Police probe into a County Lines drug dealing set up that saw drugs imported from Manchester into Blackpool.

An estimated £305,000 of drugs - 1.2kg cocaine and just under 2kg heroin - were thought to have been supplied by the gang between October 2017 and May 2018.

Dickson, 31, of Fordwell Road, Blackpool, was on the run for 18 months before being arrested on the M6.

He was jailed for four years after admitting conspiring to supply class A drugs.

Dad-of-two Dale Harrison 23, of Grange Road, Blackpool, communicated with, travelled with and was arrested with members of the group, but it was accepted he did not conspire to supply class A drugs.

He admitted conspiring to supply cannabis, and possessing criminal property - £1,625.

His 15 month jail term was suspended for 18 months, with a curfew, 50 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to attend a Thinking Skills programme.

Judge Philip Parry, who previously sentenced 11 other linked defendants, described it as a "well organised county lines Class A drugs conspiracy."

Addressing Dickson he said: " The drugs were couriered from Manchester to Blackpool by trusted drivers, including you.

"Drivers, as you well know, are essential co-conspirators in county lines operations, but I do accept you were not at the heart of the group."

To Harrison he added: " You communicated yourself directly with cannabis users and advertised a wide variety of strains of cannabis. You often travelled to your customers."

The Mancunian based operation, which went by the name of “Junior”, had a phone number which local drug users in Blackpool could call to arrange to buy drugs.

Their activities were exposed by a police sting which revealed drugs were regularly couriered from Manchester to Blackpool.

It led to eight people pleading guilty, and three others convicted after a trial.

Ringleaders Kane Hopkins, 24, Ivy Street, Manchester, previously received nine years and Christian Cook, 19, of Princess Street, Blackpool, received three years and eight months in a YOI.

The duo needed flats to store the drugs, cars and drivers to move them, and dealers or runners to sell them and the homes of some drug dealers were often "cuckooed" by the criminals.

Prosecuting, Joe Allman said Dickson, who has 22 convictions for 48 offences, conducted eight journeys between February and March 2018 to restock the group with heroin and crack cocaine.

On each occasion Cook travelled with him, holding the Junior phone. He used four vehicles, including a converted ambulance.

Harrison was found to have sold to at least 13 customers.

Cook was found in one of the booths with 29 wraps of heroin and 39 of cocaine. Hopkins was in another booth with £683 in his jacket pocket and another £385 hidden in a pack of wipes in the same booth.

Harrison was in the reception area with £1,625 in cash rolled up in his tracksuit pocket.

Police searched Harrison's flat and found 68.5g of cannabis.