A CHESHIRE man who worked as an upstream supplier of up to £100,000 worth of cocaine to downstream drug dealers has been jailed.

Thomas Sullivan played a leading role in the supply of 3kg of the class A drug to small scale distributors over a period of around a year.

The 25-year-old’s illegal enterprise came to an abrupt end however when police raided his Woolston home.

Sullivan appeared for sentence at Liverpool Crown Court via video-link from HMP Altcourse after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to supply of cocaine and possession of cannabis.

Here, he was told that the drug trade is a ‘curse on communities’ and ‘causes misery to countless people’.

Simon Mills, prosecuting, explained how on March 19 last year, police executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home, which he shared with his partner and two young children.

Officers found him to be in possession of a Nokia mobile phone, as well as a wrap containing a small amount of cocaine consistent with personal use.

Also discovered was a set of digital scales with white powder, while next to the scales was a piece of paper with numbers on, however most of the writing had been blurred by liquid damage.

Two bags containing just under 16g of cannabis were also recovered.

When examined, the Nokia revealed evidence of the supply of cocaine involving the defendant, with people placing orders and arranging for delivery.

Sullivan was sentenced on a basis of plea, which was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service, that his involvement in the conspiracy to supply cocaine was limited to no more than 3kg.

According to the CPS, the street value of the cocaine in total would be around £108,000.

Thomas Sullivan was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court

Thomas Sullivan was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court

He worked as an ‘uphill or upstream’ supplier of cocaine to small scale distributors ‘downstream’ between April 1, 2020 and March 19, 2021.

Mr Mills told the court that Sullivan played a leading role, with influence in a chain and having an expectation of substantial financial gain through organising and supplying on a commercial scale.

He also revealed that the defendant has two previous convictions for dissimilar offences.

Henry Blackshaw, defending, argued that his client played a significant rather than leading role, due to others above him in the chain.

“He was 24 years of age when the offending started and he is a family man,” he offered.

Mr Blackshaw also highlighted that Sullivan is ‘lightly convicted’, has expressed his remorse and was determined to avoid repetition of his offending on his release back into the community.

After stating that the defendant was ‘clearly looking at custody, and clearly custody of some length’, recorder Ian Harris said: “Your role in this conspiracy was a leading role.

“This type of offending is prevalent, and class A drugs are dangerous and toxic.

“The supply of such drugs is responsible for violent crime, causes misery for countless people, and is a curse on our communities.

“On the level you were operating at, it was organised and criminally sophisticated.”

Sullivan, of Peel Close, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, of which he will serve half in custody and the other half on licence.

He will appear back in court in the summer for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing.