Man caught with wraps of drugs hidden in groin in police strip search

Jason Bainbridge, who sold drugs to friends to “fund his own habit", appeared before Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, October 25.

The 48-year-old had pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply.

Police had caught Bainbridge with 41 wraps of drugs, which were heroin and cocaine, on him after they had witnessed him involved in transactions in Newton-le-Willows last year.

Bainbridge 'sold drugs to friends'

The court heard that Bainbridge was a “long-term user” of Class B drugs and after he “lost his father” he struggled to cope”.

Prosecuting barrister Miss Bawdary said friends of the defendant who were users had “introduced” him to Class A drugs “which he used as a coping mechanism”.

“He purchased drugs for himself and also shared them and sold them to friends.

“The defendant accepts he would use the money to continue to support his habit.”

Miss Bawdary said that on April 18, 2023 police officers spotted Bainbridge in a Ford Focus on King Street, Newton-le-Willows.

The officers observed two suspected transactions and then “stopped” the defendant and “searched him”.

They found £131.90 in cash and during a “strip search” found “41 small packages hidden within his groin area”.

These included “25 wraps of cocaine” and “16 wraps of diamorphine”.

Bainbridge gave a “no comment interview” to the police.

Miss Bawdary said Bainbridge had 19 previous convictions for 44 offences.

The court heard that the defendant had convictions for five offences since the time of the drugs supply offences for which he was being sentenced, including for drug driving, domestic violence and driving while disqualified.

Defending Bainbridge, Louise McCloskey said her client had suffered a bereavement,  having lost his father and also his sister.

She said he has since managed to secure employment.

“I submit drug use is what underpins much of this defendant’s behaviour” adding he “is now drug free”.

Bainbridge was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court (Image: St Helens Star)

Passing sentence on Bainbridge, judge Stuart Driver KC said: “The court will accept your basis of plea which is you bought 41 wraps of Class A drugs to sell for friends for profit to fund your own habit.”

He said this “amounts to a lesser role” with a sentencing starting point of three years.

The judge added: “There are aggravating factors, you have got a bad record including two previous offences for drugs supply and since you committed this offence you have been in court five other times.

“That must make the case significantly worse.”

Judge Driver said: “In mitigation you have made good progress on community orders and you intend to work. The most generous approach the court can take is to say the mitigating factors balance out aggravating factors.”

The judge gave Bainbridge, of Pond Green Way, Parr, a 10 per cent reduction from the three year starting point due to his guilty pleas on the date of trial, passing concurrent jail sentences of 32 months for the drugs supply offences.

Bainbridge must serve half of this period in custody.