A LEADER of a county lines drug dealing gang who dished out threats while peddling crack cocaine and heroin on the streets of Runcorn has been jailed.

William Crowney used violence and intimidation to forced users in the town to stash and distribute drugs on the organised crime group’s behalf.

The 32-year-old, of Bootle, was handed eight years and four months behind bars at Chester Crown Court on Monday, July 19, after admitting being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

His downfall came after a series of police raids in July 2019.

Crowney, who is also known as Scott, was arrested at an address on Thorn Road from which heroin, ecstasy and crack cocaine were seized.

Several videos ‘showing the ill-treatment of local drug users’ were also discovered on his mobile phone.

Police constable Dawn Taylor said: “Crowney was the ringleader of a gang who had a dominant force in supplying class A drugs from Merseyside into Runcorn.

“He subjected local drugs users to inhumane treatment, significant violence and serious harm as a means of enforcing his empire.

“His actions have had a lasting and life changing impact on his victims.

“Crowney and his gang would manipulate and force their way into the homes of vulnerable adults to use as a drugs den – a term known as cuckooing, and very commonly used by organised crime groups running a county lines enterprise.

“It has been a long operation to uncover the drug activity and the exploitation used by this gang to get to those who controlled it.

“I must give credit to the victims who have shown courage and bravery in relaying what Crowney did to them and trusting in officers to ensure justice was served.

“To continue this work in driving organised crime out of Runcorn we need the support from the public.

“I want to encourage residents to keep reporting drug activity and to recognise the signs of it, and cuckooing, taking place.”