Cocaine 'salesman', 18, detained following Blackpool drugs sting
9:38am Friday 4th July 2008
A teenager recruited to act as a drugs "salesman" in Blackpool has been given three years detention.
Jason Lees was caught out by a police operation designed to crackdown on heroin and cocaine dealing.
Surveillance led to him being caught with a Kinder egg containing nearly £500 worth of crack cocaine.
Lees, 18, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug.
Mr Duncan Birrell, prosecuting at Preston Crown Court, said the operation began in January this year.
The defendant was seen to go through Blackpool North railway station on February 4 and go to an address in Reads Avenue.
A warrant was executed and Lees was detained for a drugs search.
The plastic Kinder egg containing the crack cocaine was found in his possession.
He explained that someone he would not name out of fear had told him to take the drugs to Blackpool on a delivery.
The teenager had no previous convictions.
Judge Anthony Russell QC told Lees he had acted as a salesman, and been used and taken advantage of by others.