Man jailed for possession of amphetamine‏

Ian Nuttall

A man has been jailed for two years after he was found with amphetamine worth nearly £60,000.

Ian Nuttall, 45, of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to possession of a class B drug with intent to supply.

Sophie Burns, 19, of Cranmer Court, Heywood pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and was conditionally discharged.

At about 2.15pm on Wednesday 2 June 2010, officers from the Rochdale South neighbourhood policing team were involved in Insignia; a traffic police led operation on Queensway in Rochdale.

As part of the operation, officers asked a white van being driven by Nuttall to pull over on Dicken Green Lane. Burns was in the passenger seat.

The van was driven past the officers and stopped further down the road. Officers noticed Burns trying to dispose of a bag behind a telephone box.

An officer recovered the bag and it contained what was thought to be amphetamine. The pair were arrested.

Analysis of the drugs confirmed that it was amphetamine with a street value of £59,000. Further inquiries at Nuttall's house found more amphetamine.

Police Constable Aftab Hussain said: "This has been a great result for the Rochdale South neighbourhood team and sends a clear message that we are committed to stopping the supply of the drugs that blight our communities."