TWO men have been jailed after being caught drug dealing crack cocaine in Warrington town centre thanks to CCTV as part of Project Servator.
Sakhile Lecheko, 25 , from Corporation Street, Stafford and Duncan Adeparusi,23, of no fixed address, both pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and possession with intent to supply crack cocaine at an earlier hearing.
On Wednesday 10 November both men appeared at Liverpool Crown Court to be sentenced. Lecheko (top left) was sentenced to three years while Adeparusi was sentenced to 40 months.
The court heard that on Monday 11 October 2021 potential drug purchasers had been spotted by the Project Servator officers on foot patrol in Warrington Town Centre.
They alerted CCTV operators who then spotted suspected drug dealers. They in turn alerted Project Servator officers who then approached the suspects. Lecheko fled the scene and dropped two mobile phones. He fled across a live train line and was eventually detained by Project Servator officers. A search of Lecheko revealed a further mobile phone and cash.
Information came in from the CCTV operators that the second man, Adeparusi, and a woman were seen to hide something under a vehicle in the Cockhedge Centre car park before they were detained by officers.
The security guard recovered the items discarded by the two – a driving licence and a bank card in Lechenko’s name and a snap bag containing brown powder.
A member of the public also handed the security guard two mobile phones which had found near Gala Bingo. The security guard gave all these items to police.
Both men were later charged and remanded into custody while the woman was released without charge.
Sgt Graham Robinson said: “This is what Project Servator is all about. Working with partners whether that’s security guards, CCTV operators, shop workers or members of the public, to make Warrington a no go area for those intent on committing crime.
“I hope this goes as a warning to those selling or buying drugs or thinking of committing crime in Warrington that we have eyes and ears out there and we are determined to work together to disrupt criminal activity, whatever that may entail.
“You can find out more about Project Servator by going to our website or by searching #ProjectServator.”
Two men jailed for drug dealing following arrests by #ProjectServator patrols in Warrington Town Centre. More information here:https://t.co/PhkSAhg68n pic.twitter.com/ZF7fERlYPy
— Warrington Police (@PoliceWarr) November 12, 2021
