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'Graft phone' brought police raid to dealer's door on Smithdown Road

Bentley Lang-Cole, 23, used a graft phone to sent hundreds of daily ads for cocaine

[Bentley Lang-Cole, of Smithdown Road in Liverpool]

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Bentley Lang-Cole, of Smithdown Road in Liverpool(Image: Cheshire Police)

A drug dealer sent hundreds of daily text messages advertising the sale of cocaine in Widnes. Bentley Lang-Cole, 23, was caught after police traced the mobile phone being used to send the mass of "flare" messages.

He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on August 6. Lang-Cole, of Smithdown Road in Liverpool, had earlier pleaded guilty to being concerned in the offer to supply cocaine. The court heard how Lang-Cole was identified following an investigation led by Widnes Proactive CID into the supply of illegal drugs into the town.

Enquiries led officers to identifying a mobile phone number used by Lang-Cole to send hundreds of daily flare messages, advertising the sale of cocaine to users in Widnes.

He was arrested during a warrant at his address. During searches, officers seized a large quantity of cash and the phone Lang-Cole used to sell the drugs.

He was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.

A Cheshire Police Spokesperson said: Illegal drugs have a devastating impact on our communities, and were committed to doing all we can to identify those responsible and ensure they are held accountable for their actions.

In Lang-Coles case, he thought that hed be able to hide his activity by using a graft phone to peddle his illegal drugs.

However, he clearly underestimated the dedication of the team here at Widnes and is now paying the price for his actions.

While Lang-Cole is now behind bars, our fight against illegal drugs remains ongoing, and I urge anyone with any information about suspected drug related activity in Widnes to get in touch."

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