Ellesmere Port couple jailed for dealing class A drugs

A couple have been jailed for their part in dealing drugs in Ellesmere Port.

Jonathan Hughes, 32 from Percival Road, Ellesmere Port and Jade Hughes, 33, from Gateacre Court, Ellesmere Port appeared at Chester Crown Court on 4 January 2024 after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) at an earlier hearing.

Jonathan Hughes was sentenced to 32 months in prison and Jade Hughes was sentenced to 56 months in prison.

In September 2023 Ellesmere Port Proactive Team launched an investigation into the dealing of crack cocaine and heroin in the town.

They identified a mobile phone number which was responsible for sending ‘flare messages’ advertising the sale of drugs available to buy. These went to multiple customers of the dealers.

A second mobile number was identified as sending out flare messages and then took over the from the previous mobile number.

Then a third and final number took over the sending of flare messages.

A phone connected to these flare messages was seized in an unrelated matter and one of the dealer’s phones was identified as sending the messages.

The phones were connected to the couple and on 5 December 2023 Jade and Jonathan were arrested in the town centre and their phones were seized. They then did a search of their address and seized drug paraphernalia including snap bags and scales.

DC Roy Wellings said:

“This is one of many convictions we have secured to tackle illegal drug dealing in Ellesmere Port and we will continue our efforts to rid the streets of drugs to make our communities safer.”