Bungling county lines dealers checked into Morecambe Travelodge – but stuck out like sore thumbs

A pair of county lines drug dealers checked into a Travelodge in Morecambe but were caught because ‘they stuck out like sore thumbs’.

Wesley Bristow, 34, and Harrison Galloway, 19, travelled to the seaside town to sell class A drugs for a man known only as ‘Scouse Johnny’. They checked into the hotel with their girlfriends and set up shop, but on October 5, 2022, Lancashire Police received ‘community intelligence’ that the pair were up to no good.

Officers raided rooms 104 and 106 of the Euston Road hotel, which had been paid for in cash by Galloway’s girlfriend. In room 104 they found nothing untoward, but in 106 they discovered Bristow, Galloway and their girlfriends, along with drugs, weapons and cash, Preston Crown Court heard.

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Approximately £1,000 of heroin and crack was seized, along with £3,900 cash in a black bag which Bristow said was his. Officers also recovered two lock knives, a hunting knife and six mobile phones.

All four occupants of room 106 were arrested and cautioned. Galloway admitted owning one of the phones which was recovered but made no further comment, and Bristow answered no comment to all questions. Their girlfriends were released with no further action, the court heard.

Adam Lodge, prosecuting, said analysis of the mobile phones showed a classic county lines set up, with ‘text bombs’ being sent out from a Liverpool based dealer offering drugs for sale in Morecambe. Once the messages were sent by Scouse Johnny, there were messages between him and the defendants.

Further analysis of the phones revealed Bristow and Galloway had made several trips to Liverpool to restock on drugs and deliver cash to those higher up the drug dealing chain.

The prosecution said Galloway played a limited role in the supply of the drugs and was acting under the direction of others. Kim Obrusik, defending, said he had a turbulent upbringing and was susceptible to exploitation by other more sophisticated criminals.

“There are reasons this defendant has ended up in this position”, she said, adding Galloway’s only real stability in life was his girlfriend, who he had been with since the age of 12.

Frazer Livesey, defending, Bristow, said his client had experienced a period of homelessness following his release from prison in 2016 and was more than happy to have been recalled to prison. Mr Livesey said: “He has ADHD and autistic spectrum disorder and he recognises he sadly thrives in a prison environment.

“He has enhanced prisoner status and has a job but he has come to the conclusion he really needs to seize these opportunities he has.”

Mr Livesey told the court the pair were not caught through any kind of policing operation. “They attracted attention to themselves when they were out walking and they obviously weren’t very good at it. They were immediately spotted. They stood out like sore thumbs.”

Recorder Nicholas Owen-Casey sentenced Bristow, of Blackbrook Road, Dudley, to 48 months in prison. Galloway, of Keresley End, Coventry was sentenced to 27 months youth custody. The judge also ordered forfeiture of the drugs, weapons and phones.

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