Drug dealers avoid jail because of court case delay

TWO men who were suspected of involvement in a 'County Lines' drugs network have been spared jail because of a delay in bringing their case to court.

- by MAXINE DENTON

Gordon Astbury, aged 57, of Trelawny Avenue, St Ives, and Andrew Bidmead, aged 50, of the Trenoweth estate, North Country, appeared before Truro Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, June 6, after previously admitting possessing heroin, a Class A controlled drug, with intent to supply.

Astbury was also sentenced for one count of possessing cocaine, also a Class A drug, and Bidmead for a charge of theft, relating to an offence committed at a later date which he had previously admitted.

Francesca Whebell, for the prosecution, told the court police had suspected Bidmead's vehicle of being involved in the supply of drugs across county lines, as it had made many trips to Merseyside and Birmingham in the preceding months.

On March 8, 2020, officers stopped the vehicle on the side of the road and found Bidmead was driving and Astbury was his passenger.