Oscar Cregan aged 19 from the Tameside area, was jailed at Manchester Crown Court last week for being concerned in the supply of cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin.
Cregan’s drug dealing activities were discovered when he was searched as part of an investigation into the theft of a Rolex Yachtmaster watch worth £5,000 from a pawnbroker in Plymouth.
Based on CCTV and images circulated nationwide following the theft of the expensive watch, Cregan was searched and found to be wearing the same the jacket he wore when carrying out the offence. He also had a Rolex watch on his wrist, although it wasn’t believed to be the one that had been stolen from Plymouth.
This search also revealed two mobile phones. The data from both of these phones was downloaded, showing hundreds of messages regarding the supply of cocaine, heroin and cannabis.
These ‘blast’ messages advertised the sale of drugs to a large number of contacts on various times and dates and were, in essence, county lines drugs lines – one being operated in Morecambe and the other in High Peak. Both were run from his address at the time in Manchester.
While in custody, Cregan went on to scratch graffiti into a door and was subsequently arrested and charged with criminal damage as well.
Cregan received three years in a Young Offender’s Institute for all of the offences when he appeared in court via video link on Thursday.
DC Daniel Riley, of the Economic Crime Unit, said: “This result was a fantastic example of all the police forces in the UK working together to identify, prosecute and convict criminals, who think nothing of committing crimes, no matter where they are.
“We are very grateful to all of those involved, which has led to a drug dealer being taken off the streets of Tameside.
