Liverpool county lines gang members jailed for dealing Class A drugs in Chester

Two men from Liverpool have been sentenced to prison for dealing Class A drugs in Chester.

Jack Lydiate, 20, and Taylor McNevin, 20, were sentenced to 30 months and 33 months in prison respectively at Chester Crown Court.

The pair had both pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, specifically crack cocaine and heroin, at an earlier hearing.

However, both men breached Crown Court Bail and actively avoided police, delaying the sentencing.

Lydiate was arrested in Norwich in Norfolk and McNevin was located in the Everton area of Liverpool after extensive enquiries by Cheshire Police.

Both men were part of the Sonny county lines gang who were travelling from Liverpool to sell Class A drugs in Chester.

Their illegal activity came to an end when officers attended an address in Peckforton Way, Upton searching for Lydiate who was wanted on an unrelated matter.

Lydiate and another man escaped from the property out of the window, but Lydiate was arrested nearby.

Officers entered the house and discovered McNevin and another man inside.

A search by an Alliance drugs’ dog in the nearby area found what was suspected to be drugs, McNevin and Lydiate were then arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs

Officers recovered 335 white plastic wraps confirmed to be crack cocaine, and 240 plastic wraps confirmed to be heroin, estimated to have a street value of around £5,750.

Subsequent enquiries linked the two men to a county lines team and to them selling drugs, securing charges against them.

DS Stu Needham said: “Thanks to this case another county lines operation has been disrupted and thousands of pounds of Class A drugs have been taken off the streets of Chester.”

“I want to reassure residents that we will not stop in our efforts to stop those intent on selling illegal drugs in Chester and I hope this sends a message to others that we are watching and we will be knocking at your door if we suspect you are involved in peddling misery on the streets of our city.”