Birkenhead man jailed for drug offences

A Birkenhead man has been jailed for four years after pleading guilty to dealing Class A and B drugs.

Anthony Hayes, aged 31, of no fixed abode, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing on Friday 10 September 2026 after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis between February 24 2024 and April 1 2025.

Following an intelligence operation Hayes was arrested at his home on August 19 2025. He was subsequently taken to a police station in Merseyside for questioning and later charged.

Examination of his phone revealed he had been involved in the supply of cocaine and cannabis to several people.

Hayes was sentenced to four years for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and eight months for being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs to run concurrently. 

Chief Inspector Colin Dyer, one of the senior officers involved in EVOLVE Wirral, said: “Drug dealing causes significant harm to our communities and is often linked to wider criminality including violence, exploitation and anti-social behaviour.

“Those who choose to profit from supplying illegal drugs should expect to be identified, arrested and brought before the courts.

“This sentence demonstrates our commitment to disrupting those involved in the supply of controlled drugs and making Wirral a safer place to live and work.

“Through the EVOLVE operation we are working alongside partner organisations and local communities to tackle the root causes of serious and organised crime while taking robust enforcement action against those responsible.”

EVOLVE is Merseyside’s response to the Home Office’s Clear, Hold, Build strategy. EVOLVE Wirral is one of four EVOLVE sites across Merseyside that look to clear areas of criminality and strengthen communities’ resilience to serious crime.

Ch Insp Dyer added: “We rely on information from the public to help us target those involved in drug dealing. If you have concerns about suspected drug-related activity in your area please report it to us.

“Every piece of information helps us build a clearer picture and take action against those causing harm in our neighbourhoods.”

You can report criminal activity by contacting Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre. You can also report information via our website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or call 101.

Anyone with information about crime is asked to call Merseyside Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Alternatively, you can make an anonymous online report to Crimestoppers here: Give information 100% anonymously about organised crime in Merseyside | Crimestoppers