A DRUG dealer who was arrested after a police raid on a house has been jailed.

Nicola Ryder was detained after officers executed a search warrant at a property on Leicester Street in Whitecross back in May.

The 31-year-old, of Brandon in Widnes, was locked up for 30 months at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, October 8, after admitting possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply in connection with the raid.

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She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £190.

Around £1,300 in cash was seized during the raid, which was linked to a week of action by the force on county lines gangs.

Chester and District Standard:

Cash seized from the house on Leicester Street

Meanwhile, a woman who was held following the biggest investigation into serious and organised crime in the constabulary’s history has been spared prison.

A series of dawn raids were executed in August as part of Operation Spartans, a probe into heroin and crack cocaine gangs operating in Warrington.

Sixteen of these warrants were executed in Warrington, with properties in Liverpool, Manchester, Salford and Birmingham also searched – leading to dozens of arrests.

Chester and District Standard:

A police raid on Longshaw Street in Bewsey as part of Operation Spartans

Among these was Elizabeth Andrew – who was handed a 15-month imprisonment suspended for a year by the same court on Thursday, October 14, after she pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.

The 52-year-old addict, of Huyton, played a ‘lesser role’ in the conspiracy – with her involvement limited to one day only.

Sentencing, judge Stuart Driver said: “I’m sentencing you and you alone, and the prosecution accept that you are in a different, lower position than any other defendant in this case. The sentence I will now pass gives no indication whatsoever to any other defendant.

“Your record doesn’t aggravate the case, and although there is a previous conviction for a similar offence it was a very long time ago.

“You must understand that this isn’t the end of it.

“For 12 months, you must commit no offences and you must do as the probation service directs you.

“If you fail you will be brought back to court, and if I see you again I will have little choice to send you to prison.”

Andrew, who was also given a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 15 days, replied: “You won’t, your honour.”

Several other suspects who have been charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine following Operation Spartans are due to stand trial next year.