A Buckley drug dealer has been put behind bars after he carried on dealing despite knowing police were onto him.

Damien Burt, of Tan Y Bryn, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old had previously admitted numerous offences including possession with intent to supply class A drugs, being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, possession of class B drugs and possession of criminal property.

Karl Scholz, prosecuting, told the court that in January 2021, police executed a search warrant at the defendant's home address.

Among the items seized were five packages containing 140 tablets labelled as diazepam (but actually containing another, stronger drug called flualprazdam), £735 in cash, a pair of walkie-talkies and a mobile phone.

Messages downloaded from the phone for the period of January 24, 2021 to January 26, 2021 indicated Burt had been dealing crack cocaine, heroin and diazepam/flualprazdam.

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He was released under investigation but then arrested again after police spotted him riding an e-bike on a pavement in Wrexham.

Officers found £3,700 in his possession, following which his home was searched again.

Tubes of bicarbonate of soda and bottles of ammonia - which are used in the process of producing crack cocaine - were found, along with four sets of electronic scales and a small amount of cannabis.

A further search at his home saw almost £2,700 seized, along with wraps containing pregablin capsules, crack cocaine, cocaine bulking agent comprising caffeine and paracetamol and four mobile phones - which again indicated he'd been dealing cocaine and heroin.

Finally, on October 6 last year, police carrying out an operation to target county lines drug dealing activity in Deeside arrested Burt after spotting him with another male in an alleyway and suspecting he'd exchanged drugs.

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After being apprehended, he spat a package out of his mouth containing crack cocaine and heroin, and had a bottle of methadone with him - as well as a quantity of banknotes in his underwear.

Analysis of his phone at that point showed he'd been sending out bulk messages advertising drugs.

A police expert said the defendant had been operating "between middle market supply and street dealer" levels.

Mr Scholz told the court Burt had 34 previous convictions for 83 offences entailing all manner of crimes - such as theft, wounding, arson and drugs related matters.

Thomas McLoughlin, defending, told the court: "It is a sad fact that the background to this offending is based on his own drug use and abuse.

"At the time, he was addicted to heroin and whilst it doesn't exculpate him, it does help to understand why he did what he did.

"He had built up a drug debt and wanted to find a way to pay - it's no more complicated than that.

"He now seems to have turned a corner and is on a methadone script.

"Mr Burt is under no illusions that he faces a substantial term of imprisonment and understands he needs to be punished.

"By his guilty plea, he's seen good sense in accepting what he has done."

The Leader:

Judge Niclas Parry told the defendant: "If the proof was ever needed of the profitability of drugs, this case is it.

"A warrant was executed and you knew the police were onto you - you carried on.

"There was an arrest - you carried on, and were found to be in possession of a significant amount of money as well as drugs.

"It's clear you were an important and prolific supplier."

The Judge handed down an overall jail term of three years and four months.