Crack cocaine and heroin dealer from Ellesmere Port jailed for 45 months

A man from Ellesmere Port who was found to be using his mobile phone to deal drugs has been sentenced.

Connah Rutledge, of Alnwick Drive, came to police’s attention as part of their commitment to disrupt drug dealing in the town.

It led to the 26-year-old’s mobile number being identified and found to be used as a graft phone to send messages to multiple people advertising the sale of crack cocaine and heroin.

He was arrested at his property on Friday 9 September 2022 while on prison licence.

Further investigation led officers to capture Rutledge on CCTV footage on 27 August 2022 topping up the phone at a supermarket near to where he was staying at the time in Bunbury.

When brought into police custody he had to be moved to three separate cells due to defecating in his hands and smearing it across the rooms.

Rutledge was charged and pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced at Chester Crown Court to 45 months in prison on Thursday 6 October.

PC Lee Ashbrook, of Ellesmere Port local policing unit, said: “Once Rutledge’s number was identified as being used as part of county lines criminal activity and checks were carried out on CCTV showing footage of him using the mobile phone, he was swiftly arrested.

“Rutledge is an example of how we will identify and seek out individuals who work with organised crime groups to supply class A drugs to users in order to make a profit.

“If you believe drug activity is occurring in your community please report it via our website or by calling 101.”

Pictured - Connah Rutledge, of Alnwick Drive in Ellesmere Port.