A cannabis street dealer sourced drugs from a supplier in Skelmersdale which he then sold on from a car park in Burscough.
John Lloyd, 27, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to drugs and money laundering charges. He was cleared of a charge of possessing cocaine with intent to supply after a jury trial.
The court heard that the offences had arisen out of Lloyd finding himself in a "black hole" in 2020 following the death of his grandad. Lloyd, of Breeze Hill, Walton, began dealing in cannabis, from which he made £1,500 a month and used the proceeds to buy cocaine for his own personal use.
READ MORE : Colleen Rooney issues lengthy statement as she wins court case against Rebekah Vardy
Eric Lamb, prosecuting, said a vehicle Lloyd was driving was stopped by police in July 2020, where he was found to be carrying two lots of cocaine. He was then stopped again in August, when police found 15 "street deal" bags of cannabis in the footwell of the car and another near the gear-stick.
Mr Lamb said: "The cannabis came from a supplier in Skelmersdale, whom he (Lloyd) refused to name, and he moved to sell it in a car park in Burscough. He played a significant role as a go-between in the supply of cannabis between Skelmersdale and Burscough." In addition to the drugs, cash to the value of £2,810 was seized from Lloyd as the proceeds from selling on the drugs.
Peter Killen, defending Lloyd, said: "He's a man who in the past has worked but in 2020 he got himself into a deep hole and committed serious offences as a result. The loss of employment led to this downward spiral.
"However he has now found work in car valeting and is earning £500 to £600 a week. He is supporting himself and his family, and for the past two months has abstained from using cannabis and cocaine. The outlook for the future is positive and he's come a long way in the last two years."
Mr Killen added that Lloyd, who received a 12-month community order in January for a separate offence, had "taken advantage" of the assistance given to him and completed 118 hours of unpaid work.
The judge, Recorder Kendrick Horne, told Lloyd: "The scale of cannabis being sold meant you were able to afford a large amount of cocaine for your own use and were also able to amass a considerable amount of cash. There were also other people, who you're not prepared to name, who acted as your personal banker.
"You did all this knowing that people come to use controlled drugs when they're at their most vulnerable. You increased your own use of cocaine and cannabis following the loss of your grandfather.
"I take into account that you have stable work and an address, and caring responsibilities for your daughter, and you have complied with a drugs rehabilitation order." Mr Kendrick sentenced Lloyd to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, along with 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.
READ NEXT:
'Early morning' warning from police for one area of Merseyside
Crying woman screams 'he has been stabbed' as man put in ambulance
Arriva bus strike set to head into tenth day with no end in sight
Ranting killer's lies rejected after stabbing loving mum and dad 284 times
Man at centre of murder probe was on run accused of robbing two people
