Man jailed for drug offences and carrying a weapon in St Helens

A man who was carrying a knife and a quantity of Class A drugs in St Helens has been jailed.

Robert Clancey, aged 46, of Peter Street, St Helens was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and carrying a bladed article in public just four days ago in Fosters Park.

On Thursday 19 May officers spotted Clancey approach a group of men in the park and he was believed to have handed them a quantity of drugs.

Officers approached Clancey who ran away from the area and tried to discard the knife he was carrying. After a short foot pursuit officers detained, searched and arrested him after finding around 20 wraps of Class A drugs (crack and heroin). The knife was also recovered.

On Thursday 19 May Clancey was charged and remanded to court with both possession of Class A drugs and possession of an offensive weapon. The following day at court Clancey was sentenced to more than seven months in prison.

Chief Inspector Phil Mullally said: “Thanks to the action of our officers in St Helens a man who was carrying a dangerous weapon and Class A drugs that could have seriously harmed people and had a lasting impact on our community has been convicted in just two days.

“This illustrates the swift justice that can be brought about by policing and the courts.

“Operation Target is Merseyside Police’s response to tackling serious violence, removing this weapon and offender from communities will help drive down serious violence incidents in Merseyside and keep communities safer.

“We know the destruction that drug dealing brings to our communities and the dangers and potential harm that can be caused by the carrying of a knife in public. Those involved in the supply of drugs and use of weapons have no regard for the lives they affect and the harm they can cause to other and themselves. Drug dealing fuels serious violence in communities and this is why we are committed to pursuing those involved in serious and organised crime and bringing them to justice.

“Information from our communities plays a vital part in removing drugs and weapons and I would like to urge anyone with information on criminality in your area to please come forward so we can act upon it. We want to know who is carrying weapons in public so we can actively target those individuals so please tell us. Finally, if you’re a drug user and want to access support then I would urge you to seek out your local drug intervention service who can offer you support and guidance to help you out of the destructive cycle of drug use.”

If you have information on the storage of weapons or use of drugs in your area, please contact @MerPolCC, or 101. Alternatively, you can pass information to independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.