A DRUG DEALER FROM WIGAN WHO STORED HIS COCAINE IN A COFFEE TIN HAS BEEN JAILED

Today (16 February) Martin Bradshaw (26/09/1989) of Ashbourne Avenue, Aspull has been jailed for three years and six months at Bolton Crown Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, possession with intent to supply a class A controlled drug and facilitating the acquisition/possession of criminal property.

He has also been disqualified from driving for three years and nine months.

On Friday 5 June 2020 an officer spotted Bradshaw driving erratically in his Mercedes Benz along Scholes, Wigan. The officer attempted to stop the car but Bradshaw only accelerated, eventually managing to flee the officer. The car was spotted shortly afterwards parked up on Higher Lane, Aspull and seized by officers.

The following day, officers returned to the compound where the car was being kept and forced entry to it due to intelligence that it was linked to the supply of controlled drugs. Following a search, bank cards and a coffee tin containing cocaine were seized.

Two burner phones were also seized and these both contained details of drug supply.

On Sunday 7 June, Bradshaw attended Wigan police Station and was arrested.

Following further investigation it was uncovered that Bradshaw had purchased a static caravan in Blackpool and this was subsequently seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The Mercedes was also seized under the act.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing has been set for 15 June 2022.

Police Constable John O'Donnell of GMP's Wigan District Tasking Team said: "Bradshaw's reckless and dangerous driving not only risked the lives of innocent members of the public but it also allowed us to recover drugs from his car and uncover that he was engrained into a drug dealing chain.

"Drugs blight communities and negatively impact the lives of all those involved. I hope today's sentence sends a clear message that this type of activity is not acceptable in Wigan or Greater Manchester and GMP will do all it can to target and disrupt this activity.

"Information and intelligence we receive from the public in regard to drug dealing in the area can greatly assist our investigations so I would encourage anyone who may know of or suspect someone involved in the trade of drugs to get in touch with police."

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Information can also be submitted via our LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk or via the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.