TWO men have been found unanimously guilty over their involvement in a county lines operation which involved the supply of ‘significant amounts’ of Class A drugs between Manchester and Barrow.

Latham Burke, 49, and Stephen Payne, 54, were both convicted of two counts of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin between September 1 2022 – January 5 2023 by a jury after seven hours and 16 minutes of deliberation at Preston Crown Court following a nine-day trial.

Co-accused Sheldon McDuffus, 26, was found not guilty of facilitating the supply of Class A drugs but previously admitted a single count of possession with intent to supply Class B cannabis.

Prosecutor Paul Brookwell told jurors when opening the case: “The police conducted searches of individuals, cars and homes and recovered significant amounts of drugs and mobile phones.

“The mobile phone used to advertise, sell, and deliver the heroin and cocaine in this case was called the MK line. Children – males aged 16 and 17 years - were used to sell the drugs in Barrow.

“The MK line would send out bulk messages, such as ‘on now’ and ‘back on with both’ – with a deliberate vague reference to cocaine and heroin being available.”

Mr Brookwell told the jury Burke worked as one of the drug dealers in Barrow.

He said the Crown could prove Burke had sent text messages which showed he had made arrangements where to meet buyers, during which he contacted the MK line.

Burke told two users ‘three of each will be 70 as well mate’ which the Crown said was proof he was referring to a street deal of crack cocaine and heroin.

Police later found a 6.32-gram lump of crack, two wraps of heroin and 18 wraps of crack cocaine, as well as £490 cash at Burke’s address on Raglan Court in Barrow.

The jury also believed that that Payne, of Broad Close in Barrow, made trips to Manchester on November 7, November 26 and November 29 to stock up on drugs to be sold.

However, they could not prove that McDuffus, of Stelfox Street, Eccles, Manchester was in contact with another member of the conspiracy, (not involved in these criminal proceedings) relating to the arrangement of payment and selling of drugs.

The men will all be sentenced at Preston Crown Court by His Honour Judge Darren Preston at a later date. 

Burke and Payne were remanded into custody ahead of the hearing while McDuffus was granted conditional bail.