Daniel King, a 33-year-old man who previously killed a woman on a stolen scrambler bike, has been sentenced to 38 months in prison for dealing heroin and crack cocaine. King, of Shrewton Road in Belle Vale, was released on licence from an eight-year-and-three-month sentence for causing the death of 26-year-old Rebecca Cooke by dangerous driving in June 2021. He then agreed to deal drugs for one week to clear a debt, a decision he described as the 'worst decision he has ever made.'
Arrest and Discovery
Liverpool Crown Court heard that on June 3, 2026, police stopped a car driven by co-defendant James McGlade on Renshaw Street in Liverpool city centre. King was the front-seat passenger. Officers recovered a small bag of cannabis resin, £120 in cash, and a Nokia mobile phone from King. The phone, described as a 'graft phone' only two days old, had sent an outgoing message reading 'on at 6' to nine contacts earlier that day. During a strip search, police found wraps of heroin and crack cocaine worth between £190 and £250 hidden between King's buttocks.
Co-location Evidence
Prosecutor Paul Blasbery stated that analysis showed the vehicle co-located with the drugs line consistently over three days, with 44 co-location events. He said: 'The prosecution's case is that the defendants are together in a variety of locations at these times. Mr McGlade is the driver who transports Mr King to various locations to carry out drug dealing activity.'
Previous Conviction
King was banned from driving and had 17 previous convictions for 34 offences. In 2021, he was sentenced for causing Ms Cooke's death by dangerous driving. He had been speeding through Childwall and Huyton on a stolen KTM530 bike, under the influence of cannabis and already disqualified, when he swerved onto a pavement to avoid a police car and struck Ms Cooke. She was thrown into a wall and died from catastrophic injuries. King later told police: 'I swear officer, I didn't mean to hit anyone. I don't care what happens to me as long as she's ok.'
Defence Mitigation
King's barrister, Simran Garcha, said: 'He instructs me that he became involved in this offending because he owed an associate some money. He agreed to deal drugs for one week. He describes that as the worst decision he has ever made. He has now been recalled on licence from a previous sentence. He has been recalled until September 2029. His record is woeful, but he has nothing similar on his record. He was doing well on licence. He was engaging with education, training and employment opportunities. He was described as proactively seeking opportunities to attend courses to obtain employment in areas such as the railways and plumbing. He was motivated to get back into work to gain some stability in his life. He was residing with his girlfriend, who he remains in a relationship with. He knows that, by reason of his own foolishness, his incarceration will have a profound impact on her and their relationship. He tells me that he has been feeling low mood and depression at being back in custody. He instructs me that he is going to apply himself fully in custody and take upon him any opportunities that come his way, as far as education and employment are concerned.'
Co-defendant's Background
McGlade, 29, of Rosefield Road in Woolton, has 12 previous convictions for 21 offences. He was imprisoned for 70 months for firearms offences in 2021 and received a 20-month consecutive term in 2023 for conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. His barrister, Brendan Carville, said: 'He has been recalled to serve the remainder of the sentence. His earliest release date, at the moment, is September 2028.'
Sentencing
Both men pleaded guilty: King to possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine; McGlade to being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. Appearing via video link from HMP Altcourse, they were each jailed for 38 months. Recorder Anne Price said: 'It appears to me that you were both part and parcel of the same enterprise. Officers could see that you, Mr King, were trying to hide something down the front of your trousers. Mr McGlade, you tested positive for cannabis, and you were both arrested. Mr King, when you were strip searched, officers discovered crack cocaine hidden between your buttocks. The car you were driving, Mr McGlade, had been moving with the graft phone in the three days that it had been in use. I do bear in mind that the length of your involvement was relatively limited. However, there are factors increasing seriousness; the fact that I am dealing with you for two different types of drugs, and you have significant previous convictions, McGlade, in your case in particular, a relatively recent conviction for conspiracy to supply class A drugs. The mitigation is limited. I am aware, Mr King, that you were making some progress on your licence. To a degree, that has been cancelled out by your offending. I am going to treat both of you the same on this occasion. You both have poor records, and you were both on licence at the time.'
