A Barrow drug dealer has been jailed for six years for drugs offences in Barrow.

John Atkinson, 36, of Westway, Barrow-in-Furness, was sentenced today (24th June 2016) at Preston Crown Court for five counts of possession with intent to supply.

​Atkinson’s partner Christina Russell, 37, of the same address, was sentenced to a nine-month custodial sentence suspended for two years for money laundering.

This followed drugs worth a street value of £172,650 being seized from their home. The seizure followed a warrant executed by officers on 31st July 2015 and included drugs such as amphetamine, heroin and MDMA as well as LSD and mephedrone-type drugs.

Detective Constable Cheryl Smith, South Cumbria Area Drugs Unit, said: "This sentence reflects how serious the courts take drug supply. People who involve themselves in the supply of controlled drugs must expect to receive terms of imprisonment. This case involves a local man who has committed drugs offences before and would like to think of himself as a gangster.  He had hidden a vast amount and a large variety of drugs around his home, all destined for the streets of Barrow.

"Russell was very aware of what Atkinson was doing and knew he was using their home as a base in which to supply drugs. It was also her account in which all proceeds of his crimes were going.

“Police work hard to tackle drugs in Barrow and a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to build up such cases so that we can take early, preventative steps like this to stop illegal drug supply. We rely on the community informing us of suspicious activity or information around illegal drug use or supply in the area. If you have any information please get in touch.”

Anyone who wishes to contact the police can do so on 101, or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.