A BABY-FACED drug pusher has admitted selling crack cocaine and heroin in Barrow.

The 13-year-old schoolboy is the youngest dealer to be caught by south Cumbria’s drug squad.

The teenager was brought up to Barrow by a city crime crew after he did a runner from a court sentencing for dealing.


Detective Cheryl Smith Drugs squad officer, Detective Constable Cheryl Smith, admitted that ruthless gangs are using younger and younger children to peddle their wares and are preying on vulnerable drug addicts to house them.

Yesterday the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared via videolink from secure accommodation at Preston Crown Court.

He admitted possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine between July 17 and 20 in Barrow. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned with the supply of heroin and crack cocaine during the same dates. He also admitted possession of property acquired through criminal activity, namely the cash from his deals.

Detectives found pictures on his personal mobile phone showing wads of drugs cash strewn across a sofa and a phone listing his south Cumbria addict contacts.

DC Smith said the youngster thought he was a little gangster as he revelled in the fact he was working for a major Manchester crime gang.

Last month Scott James Emmerson, 44, and 40-year-old Catherine Warburton, of Mosley Street, Barrow, admitted letting their home be used for the supplying or attempted supply of a Class A drug between July 17 and 20 when they appeared before Barrow Crown Court.

The trio will be sentenced on February 5 at the same court.

DC Smith said this was the youngest ever dealer they had come across in south Cumbria.She said: “These teenagers are sent up here to deal drugs by organised crime groups in Liverpool and Manchester. They utilise local drug users or dealers and get them to house them. In return they get free drugs.

“This is the youngest one we have ever dealt with but we are currently dealing with two alleged dealers both aged 14.

“This particular 13-year-old stopped with Emmerson and Warburton. The teenager was missing from his home address and finally traced to Barrow. It would be known that these two had a problem with drugs and they would prey on them as vulnerable addicts.

“The police found the teenager under the bed and he was in possession of 71 wraps or crack cocaine and 70 of heroin. It had a street value of £1,410.

“This town has been plagued by drugs gangs from a cross the north west over the years. They are usually from Liverpool and Manchester.

“They come into the town and utilise local users. This is a new way of doing it by using children to deal their drugs.

“By targeting users it makes them easy to persuade and even threaten them to let their homes be used.

“The people they are using are getting younger and younger but this is the youngest we have ever had to deal with so far.

“One of Cumbria Constabulary’s priorities is to target those who pose the greatest risk to our communities and we will continue to take them off the streets and bring them to justice. The courts have handed down sentences that reflect the damage these individuals are doing to society and show it won’t be tolerated.

“This should serve as a warning to others involved in this type of serious criminality and who are damaging our communities, at some point in the future, you will be put in front of the courts to answer for what you are doing.”