Express & Star

Jailed: Cocaine and cannabis dealers were foiled when police raided flat in Lichfield

Two drug dealers operating in Lichfield have been jailed after police unearthed an estimated £14,000 worth of cocaine.

Published

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565

Michael Jones and Charlie Bayliss were both sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on August 2, having previously admitted being guilty for a range of drug offence.

Jones, 36, of Beacon Street in Lichfield, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison after he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis as well as possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Bayliss, 19, of Kirkstall Close in Bloxwich, was jailed for four years after admitting being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, possession of a knife in a public place and possession of a controlled drug of class B (cannabis).

The pair were both arrested when officers from Staffordshire Police stormed their way into a flat in Lichfield following intelligence they were running a drug line.

The main drug phone was seized, as well as Jones’ personal phone, which was being used to advertise drugs locally.

Charlie Bayliss (left) and Michael Jones are set to face long spells in prison. Photo: Staffordshire Police

A search of the flat led to the discovery of around £14,000 worth of cocaine, multiple deals of cannabis, cash, scales and a customer tick list.

A year before, Bayliss was arrested in a separate incident after officers stopped him on Walsall Road in Lichfield and he was found carrying a knife and cannabis.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said the arrests were part of a concerted effort to crack down on serious organised crime in the county.

The spokesman said: "We’ve arrested more than 1,000 people suspected of drug and weapon offences since we launched a crackdown on serious organised crime in May last year.

"Officers are continuing to work proactively to target groups and individuals responsible for high-harm crimes, including county lines drug distribution, illegal firearms activity, modern slavery, and cyber-crime in our county."