A COUNTY lines drug dealer from Winsford has been jailed after police used DNA evidence to tie him to a dismantled Nokia phone.

Police already knew Kyle Kirton, of Esk Road, was using a phone to sell drugs in the town.

He was arrested in the town centre on Friday, November 3, 2023, after police pulled over a taxi he was travelling in.

Kirton was searched and found to have £550 in cash on him, plus an iPhone and a dismantled Nokia phone in the taxi with him.

The 21-year-old was taken into custody before being released on police bail as police carried out their investigation.

The iPhone contained messages related to drug dealing, and Kirton’s DNA was found on the Nokia phone.

Then on Thursday, March 7, 2024, he was arrested again after police spotted him acting suspiciously on Vauxhall Way.

Again, he had a smartphone and a Nokia phone, plus £320 cash, and was taken into custody.

This time, the Nokia contained messages from people ordering drugs, as well as a drug dealers’ list on the phone.

Kirton was charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and two counts of possessing of criminal property, which he admitted.

He appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday, April 22, where a judge sentenced him to five years and six months in prison.

After the sentence hearing, Police Constable Dean Butterworth, who led the investigation said: “It’s clear that Kirton has no regard for the law, even while on bail he continued to deal illegal drugs in the Winsford area.

"Thankfully, because of our investigations we have been able to bring his offending to a stop and he is now behind bars.

“Illegal drugs have a devastating impact on not only drug users, but the community around them, which is why we're relentless in our pursuit to rid Cheshire of illegal drug activity.

“In order to achieve our goal, information from the public is vital.

"We will always act on any information about drug activity provided to us, and I would urge anyone who believes this activity is happening near to them, to please contact us on 101 or visit www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us .”