A HEROIN and crack cocaine dealer who was caught with more than £1,000 of class A drugs at Central Station has been jailed.

Michael Shield was handed two years and eight months behind bars at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon, Friday, after admitting possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply.

The 31-year-old, of no fixed address, had more than 100 bags of drugs packaged for onward supply when Cheshire Police performed a stop and search on him at Warrington Central on Thursday, July 9.

It is believed that Shield, who appeared in court via video link to HMP Altcourse, was part of a county lines gang.

Detective constable Adam Gorman, who led the investigation, said: “Acting on intelligence regarding county lines drug dealing, we stopped and searched Michael Shield at Central Station.

“In the coat he was wearing, we found 35 bags of heroin and 75 bags of crack cocaine – the estimated street value of that quantity of drugs is more than £1,000.

“Shield was arrested on the spot and the class A drugs were seized – as was his mobile phone, which was subsequently found to contain a list of drug addicts who live in Warrington.

“Shield was left with no choice but to plead guilty to the class A drug dealing offences he was charged with, and I am pleased that he is now behind bars facing the consequences of his actions.

“I am equally pleased that we were able to intercept a significant amount of heroin and crack cocaine before it could be sold on our streets.

“Removing dealers and their illegal drugs from our streets is a constant goal at Cheshire Police, as they have a hugely detrimental impact on our communities – they cause untold damage to the lives of both the people who become addicted to them and the wider community who suffer from the resulting crime.

“Drug dealing in Warrington, or anywhere else in Cheshire, will not be tolerated and I hope this case deters others from getting involved in the supply of class A drugs.

“As this case shows, the intelligence we gather is essential to our efforts to thwart serious and organised crime.

“I urge anyone with any information about suspected drug related activity in their community to get in touch. You will be listened to and we will investigate the matter.”

Judge Neil Flewitt also ordered Shield to pay a £190 victim surcharge.

On top of his custodial sentence, Shield was ordered to pay a £190 victim surcharge.

Superintendent Martin Cleworth said: “I would like to thank all the officers involved in this case for all their hard work in securing this conviction.

“The case emphasises the importance of the police’s power to stop and search people they suspect to be responsible for crime.

“As a result of the intelligence officers had gathered, and their ability to search Michael Shield, a drug dealer and a substantial amount of heroin and crack cocaine have been removed from our streets.”

Cheshire police and crime commissioner David Keane added: “Stop and search powers are crucial to the essential role that frontline officers play in the detection and prevention of serious and organised crime.

“I know that officers work tirelessly in their fight against county lines drug dealers who blight communities in Cheshire with their illegal drugs, and I am delighted that they have secured another good result in this regard.”