A PROLIFIC west Cumbria crook committed an “orgy of offending” which included drug-dealing, possession of weapons and trying to use counterfeit cash.

Christopher Halsall, 38, was sentenced for six separate sets of crimes committed during 2018 and 2019.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how a member of the public caught Halsall on camera in the act illegally supplying a psychoactive substance outside Workington’s job centre on two separate dates last November.

“He was found with money, a tub containing tablets and two mobile phones which were analysed and contains drug-dealing messages,” prosecutor Kate Hammond said. “Video footage was filmed by a member of the public.”

Officers had also unearthed a “veritable corner shop” of different illegal substances when they twice executed warrants at Halsall’s home on separate dates during 2018. These included ecstasy, amphetamine and more than 1,000 diazepam tablets, the latter of which he later accepted having with intent to supply.

On other occasions, Halsall was also found in illegal possession of a knife and two knuckle dusters. And he had also committed two shoplifting offences. One occurred at the Primark store in Carlisle when he snatched headphones and a charging cable. He initially denied that offence, said Ms Hammond, “claiming he was a kleptomaniac”.

On August 17 last year, he stolen jacket, socks and a torch worth from Workington’s Trespass shop after he was rumbled while trying to pay for the goods with fake £20 notes. When arrested, he was found with £540 worth of counterfeit twenties.

Halsall, of Main Road, Flimby, near Maryport, admitted around two dozen charges across six separate sets of offending. The court heard he had 97 crimes on his criminal record.

“This is an orgy of offending,” conceded Brendan Burke, defending, “concentrated on October and November of last year.”

Judge Nicholas Barker, who also heard mitigation and of Halsall’s unfortunate and tragic upbringing, mental health issues and drug addiction, jailed him for a total of 23 months. The judge also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the illegal substances and weapons seized.