A NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS drug dealer’s ‘double life’ fell apart after he was caught entering a a Warrington town centre bar with multiple bags of cocaine.

Kai Birkett, 23, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday for possession with intent to supply cocaine.

Prosecuting, Paul Blasbury told the court how Birkett, of Belvedere Road in Newton-le-Willows, had attempted to enter Reef bar on Bridge Street on March 13, 2022.

A member of the door staff asked to search the him, and discovered six snap bags of white powder. Birkett was then walked to a nearby police officer who arrested him.  

3.98 grams of what was later found to be cocaine was found on him, with a street value of between £180-300.

After a search of his property by Cheshire Police, a further 0.3 grams were found, as well as £500 in cash, weighing scales with white powder on them, and a phone with "drug messages" on it.

Birkett had fallen into debt, following the stealing of his work tools. Mr Blasbury contended that due to this, and Birkett’s own cocaine addiction, he was pressured into selling drugs to work off his debts.

Defending Birkett, Paul Wood told the court: “This was a well thought of individual who was essentially living a double life.”

Mr Wood described how, as well as being indebted due to stolen tools, the defendant fell into drug dealing to pay off his own habit.

He said that, at the time of the offence, Birkett was spending roughly £300 a week on cocaine for recreational use.

Since the arrest, however, Mr Wood says the defendant has ‘taken steps to address his use of cocaine and ketamine’.

A self-employed joiner, Birkett has held down stable gainful employment since his arrest, and has paid off his drug debts of roughly £1,500 with the help of family.

Mr Wood said: “This has been a real learning experience for this young man, the pre-sentence report describes his remorse as being ‘palpable’.”

He also stated the pre-sentence report claimed the defendant had a "very realistic" prospect of rehabilitation, and "a low chance of reoffending".

Recorder Eric Lamb, presiding over the case, said: “You need no reminding of the devastation caused by the dissemination of class A drugs has on lives.

“You added to the spread of Class A drugs.

“You were doing so in a roundabout way to feed your habit.”

Recorder Lamb sentenced Birkett to two years, however suspended this sentence for two years due to his strong personal mitigation.

As well as this, Birkett’s sentence will have a ‘strong community element’, namely 100 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and a community order.