A "substantial street dealer" tried to smuggle drugs into prison to sell for "fortunes".
Michael Redmond, 53, of no fixed abode, was seen on CCTV distributing drugs in Waterloo on March 21. The next day, he was spotted again by police officers who described him as carrying out "four separate drug transactions" on Manley Road in which he received cash.
Appearing via video link before Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, May 22, it was heard that Redmond was unable to be detained by police. However, on March 23, he was again seen by officers on Cambridge Lane.
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Prosecuting Mr Blasbery said he was arrested but "tried to swallow an object in his mouth". The court heard Redmond was taken to hospital and a strip search carried out in which over 50 bags of "white powder" was recovered as well as a mobile phone and £20 in cash.
Mr Blasbery told the court that another "golf ball sized package was recovered" which contained 40 bags of cocaine and 20 bags of heroine. Meaning in total, there had been 96 bags of cocaine and 20 bags of heroine with a street value of over £1,000.
He was later interviewed by police but "remained silent". The court heard how Redmond, who was on remand, hoped the drugs, hidden in his anus, would be worth "fortunes" in the prison setting and he had told officers: "I'm going to need those in prison".
His Honour Judge David Hale said: "It's a significant role of street dealing you were out doing."
Defence Counsel Tom Watson told the court it was a "sad state of affairs", but that Redmond had told police officers about the hidden drugs, whereas the "more sophisticated wouldn't".
He added Redmond was brought up in Crosby with a "supportive family who have had to deal with this pretty much all his life." However, the court heard he has been a "long time user of very hard drugs", but since his time in prison has been "trying to stabilise himself".
The defence counsel said: "The test is not now, the test is when he is outside."
Addressing Redmond, Judge Hale said: "It will come as no surprise to you there has to be a custodial sentence, and of some length. You knew exactly what risk you were running by dealing with drugs to the extent you were."
He added: "You tried very well to keep the contents you had in your rectum. You quite deliberately thought that would be useful when you got to prison. That's an aggravating feature in my judgement."
Giving Redmond full credit for his earlier guilty pleas for two counts of possession to supply cocaine and heroin, the judge said: "Of course there was a degree of pressure, there always is when you're a user."
Redmond was given a custodial sentence of 44 months.
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