A YOUNG 'county lines drug dealer' who was caught in Carlisle with heroin and cocaine has been locked up for 16 months.

Callum Ormond, who appeared at the city’s crown court on the day of his 19th birthday, had earlier admitted two counts of possessing the illegal drugs with intent to supply them.

Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson outlined how the defendant and an accomplice were caught on August 20 last year.

When they were approached by police, they seemed agitated and eyed the approaching officers with particular interest, said Mr Rogerson. Though no drugs were actually found on the defendant.

But on his phone police found a series of instructions for him from those higher up the drug supply chain.

They directed him to certain parts of Carlisle so he could sell drugs to ‘customers’ who had received text bomb adverts for £20 drug deals, for both heroin and crack cocaine.

At the time of the offences, Ormond was aged just 17.

Jamie Baxter, for the defendant, said: “He obviously wasn’t the prime mover.

"The defendant is now in gainful employment but he committed the offences because he didn’t have any money.”

Judge Andrew Jefferies QC did not accept Mr Baxter’s submission that jail was only appropriate for those higher up the supply chain.

He said: “As far as the need for deterrence, I am sure I don't accept counsel's argument that the only way to deter people is to punish the organisers and those higher up the chain more severely.

"The message has to go out that if you go on a jolly to Carlisle to sell drugs you will not be treated leniently because of your personal circumstances.”

That aspect of deterrences was important to both those who might be recruited and to those who might do the recruiting.

He sent the defendant, of Hogarth Drive, Prenton, Wirral, to a Young Offenders’ Institution for 16 months.