A former Southport rioter has been jailed for his 'significant' role in a drug dealing operation after police found him with curved swords and 64 bags of cocaine down his shorts. Connor Prescott's role in a county lines operation in Southport known as J Flabs was exposed after the phone used to send out flare messages was used to book a taxi to his former flat and contact his parents and girlfriend.
Drugs and swords found at mother's home
Police attended Prescott's mother's home in Southport only to find him attempting to hide a 'large package of drugs' down the back of his shorts. Despite having been handcuffed, he then attempted to vault a fence in the back garden.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday (September 30) that Merseyside Police identified a county lines drug supply operation known as "J Flabs", which advertised cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine for sale to users in the Southport area between March and May of this year. Prescott was found to be the man in control after the phone used to send out these flare messages was used to book a taxi to his then flat on Waterloo Road in Birkdale and contact his parents and girlfriend.
Arrest and sentencing
Jonathan Keane, prosecuting, described how the 27-year-old was also captured on CCTV purchasing a top-up for the mobile in question at a convenience store on one occasion. This led to police attending his mum's home on Cambridge Road in Southport on August 4. With his mum having answered the door to officers, Prescott was found sitting on a sofa in the living room while attempting to hide a large package of drugs down the back of his shorts.
This was subsequently found to comprise of 64 bags of cocaine, weighing a combined total of 38g and valued at between £1,500 and £2,600 at street level. A Nokia burner phone and two curved swords were also seized from the address. With Prescott having been handcuffed, he was able to flee into the back garden and attempted to climb over a rear fence but was pulled down by PCs before he could escape.
The court heard that Prescott is a university graduate, with a degree in business management from Edge Hill University. He has three previous convictions for three offences, including receiving a suspended prison sentence for possession of cannabis with intent to supply in 2020. He was then given 28 months behind bars for violent disorder in August 2024, with the ECHO reporting that he had thrown bricks, masonry and wheelie bins towards police during large scale rioting in the town on the evening of July 30 that year.
Defence and judge's remarks
Matthew O'Neill, defending, told the court that Prescott was battling addiction problems himself. "He very sadly fell into that typical type of hole that many young people in this city find themselves in when they become addicted to hard drugs," he said. "He was raised well by a hard working family and had variety of jobs while studying. He took the student life beyond the extreme, out socialising, becoming addicted to a variety of drugs. A very significant debt was built up with local dealers. He accepts full responsibility for his actions. He does not seek to blame anyone else but himself."
The court was told that Prescott has used his time in custody 'productively' and is 'confident' this will be 'the last time he troubles these courts'. "The embarrassment, the shame that he has brought upon his family is acting as the motivation to ensure this will be last time he frequents these courts," Mr O'Neill said.
Prescott admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy, escaping from lawful custody and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for 40 months.
Sentencing, Recorder Nicola Daley said: "Having been released from the sentence that you received for violent disorder, you became involved in both the supply of class A and B drugs. You were in control of a graft phone used to send out multiple flare messages advertising different drugs available to those on the streets. Anybody that involves themselves in the supply of class A drugs should expect to go to prison. The supply of those drugs causes significant harm. Those who traffic those substances are profiting financially from that addiction and misery suffered by those families. They lead to far more crime in society and can result in violence and violence between groups."
She told Prescott he had played a 'significant' role in a street supply business. "You are not somebody without prospects. You completed a university course. You are still only 27," she told him. "You are at a crossroads in your life. It will be for you to prove, not only to yourself but to your family, that you can live a better life. I accept that you are now remorseful. I do hope you will use this sentence constructively."
