TWO people have been jailed for more than six years for their role in the supply of illegal drugs on the street of Warrington.

Angela Williams and Remell da Silva were caught playing a function in ensuring users had access to class A substances in the town.

The pair, from Warrington and Manchester respectively, were both charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, while da silva also faced a charge of possessing criminal property.

Both appeared before Chester Crown Court to be sentenced, having pleaded guilty to charges before them at previous hearings.

The prosecutor in the case, Karl Scholz informed the court that an investigation was launched after Cheshire Police detectives became aware of two mobile numbers advertising the sale of class A drugs to drug users in Warrington.

The controller of the ‘TQ’ county line was quickly identified to be 21-year-old da Silva, who was responsible for sending daily ‘flare’ messages to advertise and sell his supply.

Whereas 36-year-old Williams, of Latchford, acted as a street dealer and allowed da Silva to orchestrate his drug operation from her home.

A warrant was conducted at Williams’ home address on Stringer Crescent at around 2.10pm on July 6, resulting in the arrest of da Silva and Williams on suspicion of drug offences.

During the warrant, officers recovered a graft phone, believed to be the one used by the team, with messages evidencing the sale of illegal drugs.

A list of drug dealers and drug paraphernalia, such as scales, was also recovered from the home.

Angela Williams and Remell da Silva were jailed at Chester Crown Court

Angela Williams and Remell da Silva were jailed at Chester Crown Court

On his arrest, Cheshire Police recovered £345 from the da Silva’s man bag, as well as £120 at his address.

Before passing sentence, judge Michael Leeming remarked that the severity of the offending displayed merited only an immediate custodial sentence.

Williams was sentenced to 31 months in prison, while da Silva, of Lindale Avenue in New Moston, Manchester, was handed a sentence of 40 months in a young offender institution.

The case will be brought back before the same court in April for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing to determine how much of their ill-gotten gains each will have to repay.

The sentence handed down by the court was welcomed by DI Rob Balfour, of Cheshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit.

He said: “Da Silva and Williams thought that they could get away with bringing crack cocaine and heroin into Warrington – but they were wrong.

“I welcome the sentences handed to them, and I hope this sends a clear message that county lines activity has no place in the town.

“We are doing all we can to stop drug activity on our streets, to make our county a safer place to live and visit, while also making it extremely difficult for these gangs to operate.

“We will always act on any information about drug activity provided to us, and we would urge anyone who believes this activity is happening near to them to please contact Cheshire Police.”

Anyone with information about illegal drug activity in their area can report it to Cheshire Police via the force’s website, or report it to Crimestoppers anonymously via its website.