A JUDGE said jailing a Barrow drug-dealing dad was ‘truly unavoidable’ after he was caught with over £3,000 worth of cocaine.

Michael Torkington, of Cheltenham Street, played a ‘significant role’ in supplying Class A drugs to users in Barrow, Preston Crown Court heard.

The court was told Torkington – aged 23 - involved himself in the operation to fund his own drug addiction and to pay off his own debts.

Prosecutor Alexander Bennie said police first discovered the defendant’s drug dealing activity when they executed a search warrant at an address on Hartington Street on March 26 this year.

On that occasion, officers found several items including an ounce of cocaine, various bags of cannabis, quantities of cocaine in various snap bags, cash and other drug paraphernalia, Mr Bennie told the court.

He said the defendant was arrested and subsequently granted bail.

The court heard Torkington was stopped by police in Barrow on April 25 - nearly one month later - after being spotted dealing drugs in a nearby alleyway.

Mr Bennie said Torkington was found with quantities of cash, an iPhone and three snap bags of ‘white powder’.

He said the defendant, when being arrested, gave up the address of a property on Longreins Road in Barrow which he had been using to prepare the drugs for supply.

As a result, police searched the premises and found more cannabis and cocaine, as well as digital scales, the court heard.

The court was told the cocaine seized would have had a total street value of £3,280 and that the cannabis would have had an estimated value of £420, if both were sold at street level.

Mr Bennie said the defendant told officers when being arrested: ‘I admit to it all. I had been drug dealing. Just charge and remand me. I am pleased I am out of this. It needed to end’.

In mitigation, Claire Larton said her client had been honest from the outset.

She added: “He tells me he will come out of prison debt free as he has not ‘grassed’ on anyone else.

“He got involved to earn money to carpet, furnish and paint a property which he wished to move into with his baby daughter. He also accepts he was dealing to fund his own cocaine addiction as well.

“He has settled in custody and has been trying to develop his employability upon his release.

“He wishes to better himself and be a good father. He is still a very young man who has time ahead of him.”

Torkington pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possession of cannabis at Preston Crown Court on June 4 and, as a result, was jailed by His Honour Judge Richard Archer for 32 months.

Judge Archer said: “You played a significant role within the chain in that you were the dealer. You packaged up the drugs in your property and you must have expected to receive some financial advantage.

“Custody is truly unavoidable in this case.”

Judge Archer also ordered for forfeiture and destruction of all cash, drugs, and paraphernalia recovered in the case.