Drug dealer jailed after phone gaffe

Lee Eastwood, 44, (pictured) of Marsden Street, Kirkham, was sentenced to 10 months jail after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis, being concerned in the supply of cannabis and being concerned in the supply of valium at an earlier hearing.

A suspended sentence of four months for a previous conviction of fraud by false representation from November 2014 was also activated.

He was arrested on May 29 last year when he was stopped by officers on North Park Drive in Blackpool for using his mobile phone while driving.

During the stop, a quantity of cannabis was discovered in his car, police said.

A search of his house uncovered around 200g of cannabis along with £220 in cash and mobile phones.

Text messages on the phones indicated Eastwood had been involved in the supply of cannabis over a significant period of time.

Speaking after the sentence PC Chris Hammond, of Blackpool Police, said: “What started out as a routine traffic stop led to the recovery of a significant amount of cannabis and I am pleased that Eastwood has now been brought to justice for his actions.

“Throughout our investigation, he claimed that he was in possession of the cannabis for his girlfriend who was suffering from cancer and needed it for pain relief.

“However we established that this was not the case and he tried to use her illness as an excuse for dealing drugs to avoid a prison sentence.

“We do not tolerate the supply of drugs in Lancashire and this sentence sends out a clear message that we will bring to justice anyone who is found to be concerned in their supply.”