A DEALER has been jailed for 12 months after a police raid in Runcorn uncovered drugs with a street value of £93,000.

Darren Atkinson, 39, of Bridgeway West, Windmill Hill, denied a charge of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class B (cannabis) but was convicted of the offence by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court.

Hertfordshire Police raided a property on Greenbridge Close in Runcorn in an unrelated matter on February 2017.

Whilst officers were searching the property Atkinson turned up and demanded to be let in.

He was refused entry and officers found a large laundry bag containing bags of cannabis inside the property.

Cheshire Police carried out forensic examinations on the bags and found Atkinson’s fingerprints and DNA on them.

Atkinson was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday 22 March.

Detective Constable Ciara Murphy, of Cheshire Police, said: “We are delighted that drugs with a street value of £93,000 have been taken off the streets in this instance.

“The custodial sentence that has been handed to Atkinson should send out a message to all those involved in the cultivation and supply of cannabis and any other illegal drug that their crimes will not be tolerated by the police.

“Illegal drugs have no place in Runcorn – this sort of activity has a major impact on the local community and we will do everything we can to put a stop to it.

“We are working hard to target those involved in drug dealing and to bring them to justice.

“We act on all information that we receive and ask members of the public who have any information about the illegal supply of drugs in Runcorn to contact us on 101 and help us to make the town a safer and better place to live.

“Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”