Drug dealer who had ambitions to be the Mr Big of Blackpool jailed after police raid found £100k of 'stock'

Drug dealer James Allen had ambitions to be the Mr Big of the Blackpool drug scene.

Today he is behind bars beginning a lengthy prison sentence after police busted him for selling a small wrap in the street.

Allen’s would-be “empire” unravelled when officers raided properties associated with him and his younger brother Steven.

James Allen, 38, of no fixed address, was jailed for eight years and eight months by a judge at Preston Crown Court after he admitted possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.

It was his third conviction for Class A in the space of four years, triggering a “three strikes and you’re out” sentence.

His brother Steven Allen, 35, of Tudor Street, Blackpool, was sent down for more than five and a half years for his part in the supply of heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis across the Fylde coast.

The pair were said to have stocks of drugs with a potential street value of over £100,000 when police pounced to dismantle their operation.

Mobile phones recovered by officers contained messages about drug dealing, price lists and a checklist of rules to follow in the sale of narcotics including “take the cash first before handing stuff over” and “check all notes to make sure they’re not fakes”.

Prosecution lawyer John Parker told the court that James was “a drug dealer with aspirations to go to the top working on his own”. He had initially been working for his brother but had wanted to show what he could do if he was in charge.

In one text exchange between the brothers James told his sibling: “I trust you’ve seen what I can do on my own? Watch what I can do knowing you’re behind me brother.”

He went on: “Trust me, I’m going to the top and taking everyone with me.”

In response Steven said: “I’m so f***ing proud of you. You do seem determined this time. I’ll help you as much as I can. You should be proud of yourself brother.”

James replied: “Trust me, you’ll be earning a fortune.”

Judge Kirsty-Ann Gunn was told officers from a squad targeting organised drug trafficking in Blackpool were in the Lytham Road area of the resort when they saw James Allen make a hand-to-hand exchange with a man in the street.

They detained him and found heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis in a man bag strapped across his chest. He had just come from an address in nearby Kirby Road.

The police took him back to the property and discovered a large quantity of drugs. James told them: “Anything you find in this flat I’m responsible for. It’s my third strike. I’m probably going down for 10 (years).”

Officers examined his mobile phone and found text messages about supplying drugs, amounts, customers and locations.

Brother Steven was traced to an address in Lord Street, Blackpool and was found to be in possession of another large quantity of cocaine and crack cocaine in a JD Sports bag together with a large quantity of cash.

The property was searched and large amounts of heroin and cannabis were also recovered.

At the flat in Kirby Road police also found 20 pairs of trainers, each worth more than £100.

On one of the phones seized there were messages in which the brothers were each directing the other to deliver drugs to different locations, including a house and a pub. There was also a list of debts in which one customer, referred to as Harry, was said to owe them £31,900.

The court heard both men had lengthy police records and had served time in jail. While James had served two previous prison terms for Class A drug offences – he was also a prolific shoplifter - his brother Steven had only Class B (cannabis) convictions.

James was now subject to the “three strikes and you’re out” rule which carries a mandatory prison term of at least seven years.

Barrister Sharon Watson, representing Steven Allen, said her client had only been guilty of possessing Class A drugs on the one day.

“Police officers happened on his brother in a hand-to-hand exchange,” she said. “They arrested James Allen and events unfolded.”

She said the offending was not county lines drug dealing, nor a conspiracy case. “My client was involved in street level supply and wholesale supply of Class A and B (drugs). It is accepted that the amount of Class A was significant.

“It is clear he was involved in street dealing and also some medium level wholesale dealing. Just because the amount was considerable that doesn’t mean that has to be a leading role. This was dealing over one day.

“This is not a wide-ranging or sophisticated operation. The messages were few in number and this was not a commercial scale operation in some respects. It was a small-time operation.

“He is a first striker. He has served time in prison before, but not like the length he will be given today.”

She said he just wanted to get on with serving his sentence, get out and get on with the rest of his life.

Tom Lord, for James Allen, said his client had only become involved in crime at the age of 24. Prior to that he had been law-abiding.

His first Class A drugs conviction was at the age of 34 and he had not been a habitual drug user. But this was his third Class A sentence in four years.

The two brothers, he said, were “still close”. And Mr Lord argued the sentence for James Allen should be “the minimum (seven years) and no more”.

“He is on the cusp of his 40th year. He has wasted a great deal of time and recognises that time marches on.

“If he continues (in crime) he will be in line for longer and longer sentences and he will squander what time he has left.”

Judge Gunn said in James Allen’s case there was evidence of both a leading role and a significant role in the organisation, he had a “substantial influence in the chain of supply”.

His brother Steven, she said, had an extensive criminal history, although only Class B drug convictions.

She ordered all the drugs and paraphernalia seized to be destroyed and the mobile phones to be confiscated.