A BARROW man, who allowed a 15-year-old to deal Class A drugs from his home, has been jailed for his role in organised crime.

Ryan Mitchell, of Westmorland Street, Barrow, was given five years and eight months in prison for allowing his premises to be used for the supply of Class A drugs. The 42-year-old was sentenced alongside a 16-year-old from Merseyside, for their roles within an organised crime group.

The teenager was sentenced to a two-year rehabilitation order, with intensive supervision and surveillance, for Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs. The pair were sentenced at Preston Crown Court today after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.

The prosecution follows an investigation carried out by the Southern Area Drug Squad into the activities of Mitchell and the teenager on September 10 last year. Mitchell was arrested near Barrow Park, after a police search found him in possession of cannabis.

Following the arrest, officers proceeded to search Mitchell’s home address on Westmorland Street, where they found and arrested the other defendant, who was then 15. The teenager was found to have 11 bags of heroin and 37 wraps of crack cocaine, along with £360 in cash, in his tracksuit pocket.

A further eight wraps of heroin and seven wraps of crack cocaine were also found in the property. Combined, the drugs had a street value of nearly £2,000. Multiple mobile phones, numerous empty sim card holders and top-up cards, electronic scales were also seized.

Through interrogation of mobile phones taken from Mitchell and the teenager it became apparent that they were involved with an organised crime group from Merseyside. Phone data showed that both Mitchell and the teenager were in frequent contact with a person from Merseyside throughout September 10. It was through this communication that the arrangement was made for the teenager to base himself at the home address of Mitchell.

Sergeant Jamie Eaton, of the South Area Drugs Squad, said: “I am pleased that Mitchell has now been taken off the streets of Barrow. Sentencing guidelines are available for the court to deal with drug dealers harshly, and an aggravating factor in this case was the fact that Mitchell had let a 15-year-old use his property for drug supply.

“I hope the sentence given to Mitchell acts as a deterrent to others thinking of becoming involved in drug supply.”

Anyone with information about the supply of drugs in Cumbria is asked to call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.