A DRUG dealer has walked free from court after narrowly avoiding an immediate term of imprisonment.

Joshua Bursk was responsible for ensuring class A and B drugs were available to users in Warrington.

The 24-year-old admitted his role at a previous hearing in the form of possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply them.

He also pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of the same drugs, with the case adjourned to recently for a sentencing hearing at Chester Crown Court.

The court was informed of the facts of the case by Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, who said that the being concerned in the supply charges were between March and June, 2021.

He was concerned in the supplying of quantities of the controlled drugs of class A and B respectively, namely cocaine and cannabis, to unknown persons in Warrington

On June 14, 2021, in the town, he was caught in possession of the illegal substances with the intention of ensuring they ended up in the hands of users.

Recorder Mark Ainsworth remarked that the gravity and severity of the offences meant that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

However, given the defendant’s guilty pleas and the time take for the case to be concluded, he could just about draw back from immediate custody.

Bursk, of Canterbury Drive in Bury, was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to carry out 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and undertake 250 hours of unpaid work.

The defendant will appear beck before the court later this year for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing to determine how much, if any, of his ill-gotten gains he will have to repay.

Addressing the supply of drugs in the town, Cheshire Police previously said: “Illegal drugs have a hugely detrimental impact on our communities.

“We are committed to doing all we can to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.

“We always endeavour to do all we can to combat this kind of behaviour, to make our communities safer places to live and visit, while making it harder for people intent on supplying drugs to operate.

“We will always act on any information about drug-related activity and would urge anyone who believes this activity is happening in their community to inform Cheshire Police by calling 101 or through our website.”