A TRIAL date has been set for two men accused of being part of a large drugs gang which supplied cocaine and heroin.

Wayne Roberts, 49, of Dock Road, Birkenhead and Michael Hailwood, 49, of Wellington Road, Wallasey, both deny two charges of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

They entered their pleas at Chester Crown Court on Monday, August 3, Hailwood appearing via videolink and Roberts appearing in the dock.

A three-week trial for the duo is scheduled to take place at Chester Crown Court from April 19.

Honorary Recorder of Chester Judge Steven Everett explained the trial could only take place at Chester under the present circumstances as Warrington and Shrewsbury courts did not have enough space to cater for socially distanced jury trials, while Liverpool, Manchester and Preston crown courts had their own cases to deal with.

Hailwood was remanded in custody.

Roberts was put on conditional bail, with an 8pm-3.30am curfew, and that he report to a local police station each Sunday.

  • Daniel Riley, 19, of Mancot Way, Mancot, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin at Chester Crown Court.

He will be sentenced, along with a number of other defendants, on a date to be arranged in September at Chester Crown Court.

He was put on conditional bail, in that he observes a curfew.