A teenage dealer who "joined the family drugs business" was caught with nearly £20,000 worth of luxury goods and earned "hundreds every day".
Thomas Forshaw was caught with the huge stash of designer gear when police raided his Liverpool city centre apartment. The "feral" 19-year-old had been involved in the operation of three separate county lines gangs which flooded areas in Lancashire and Cumbria with heroin and crack cocaine, which he boasted was "dynamite" and the "best in town".
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Thursday, that he was "wooed" into the underworld, which several of his relatives were already caught up in, and went on to earn hundreds of pounds per day. On June 20, 2021, a car driven by a relative and carrying Forshaw as a passenger was stopped on the M6 heading to Barrow-in-Furness.
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Forshaw appeared to be under the influence of drugs, and was found to be in possession of £1,750 in cash and a Nokia mobile. Upon analysis, the phone was found to have been in use since March that year in supplying heroin in the area as part of the so-called 'Mitch Line'.
One flare text, a message sent to multiple numbers advertising drugs for sale, found on the device read: "Best about, dynamite. Mitch".
Forshaw was released on bail but, on March 16 this year, Merseyside Police executed a search warrant at his flat on Marlborough Street. Upon entering the bedroom, the teen was seen by officers with another Nokia phone in his hands.
He "actively resisted" arrest though, and had to be restrained on the bed as a result. During a search of the property, the force seized six mobiles, a "large quantity" of caffeine and paracetamol which were being used as cutting agents, heroin with a purity of around 50% and valued at up to £5,016, £2,000 in cash, a block of cannabis resin and a jar of the class B drug.
Also discovered were "designer clothing and shoes", an Apple watch and a PlayStation 5 with an estimated combined value of around £19,000. Analysis of two of the phones discovered they had been used in the 'Real Jackkk' and 'Kai' county lines, which supplied heroin and crack in Barrow and Morecambe respectively over the previous three months.
One message read "best in town, dynamite, real jackkk” while another said "active, best of both, three for 50, quick drops". Tom Challinor, prosecuting, told the court: "The prosecution case is he willingly and enthusiastically joined the family business.
"His brother, cousin and uncle are all significantly involved in drug supply and county lines operations. Were that not the case, he might not be sitting here this morning.
"It's the prosecution's case that he hasn't been manipulated or exploited. He demonstrated a determination to carry on the trade and reap the benefits that were evident when he was arrested the second time around."
Julian Nutter, defending, maintained that his client had been "groomed" to work in the supply of drugs and had not been the head of the county lines operations. He also compared Forshaw to "Bubbles from the Pears Soap advert" - which features Sir John Everett Millais' 1886 painting A Child's World, a depiction of the artist's five-year-old grandson.
The court heard that the ketamine and cannabis user had lived with his grandma when his mum emigrated, but he was left to "fend for himself" after his nan died. Mr Nutter added: "When he is released, he can put it behind him and live a decent, honest life."
Forshaw - who has one previous conviction for possession of a bladed article in a public place and possession of cannabis - admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine, possession of cannabis and possession of criminal property. Judge Gary Woodhall found the he had a "significant" role in the operations which he "inherited".
Sentencing, he said: "Your offending spanned 12 months of drug dealing involved in three separate county lines operations. It's clear to me you have come from a supportive and hard-working side of the family who are shocked by your offending.
"You are described as someone who previously lived a positive life, who is well thought of and polite and caring. But you struggled to cope with life events, including grief.
"You were left to fend for yourself. You became feral. I'm perfectly satisfied that you viewed drug dealing as a way to generate income, and you had no desire to find legitimate work. This was a lifestyle choice."
Judge Woodhall jailed him for four years and four months. Forshaw could also be ordered to repay his ill-gotten gains under the Proceeds of Crime Act, and will appear back before the same court later this year.
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