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Jail time for county lines gang members who poured class A drugs into a town

By The Editor   4th Nov 2025

Drug dealers Matthew Tyrer and Leon Crawford have been sentenced (Credit: Cheshire Police)
Drug dealers Matthew Tyrer and Leon Crawford have been sentenced (Credit: Cheshire Police)

Two members of the 'Wez' county lines team who poured class A drugs into Congleton have been jailed.

Leon Crawford and Matthew Tyrer recently appeared for sentencing at Chester Crown Court, having admitted to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Crawford, 46 and of Green Way Close, Roby, was sentenced to four years in prison, while Tyrer, 51 and of no fixed abode in the Congleton area, was handed a sentence of four years and four months.

Detective Inspector Rob Balfour, of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: "Tyrer and Crawford thought that they could get away with bringing crack cocaine and heroin into Congleton, but they were wrong.

"I welcome the sentences handed to them, and I hope this sends a clear message that county lines activity has no place in the town.

"We are doing all we can to stop drug activity on our streets to make our county a safer place to live and visit while also making it extremely difficult for these gangs to operate.

"We will always act on any information about drug activity provided to us and would urge anyone who believes this activity is happening near to them, to please contact Cheshire Police."

Crawford and Tyrer have been sentenced to more than eight years behind bars between them (Credit: Cheshire Police)

An investigation was launched after detectives became aware of three mobile numbers advertising the sale of heroin and crack cocaine to local drug users in Congleton.

Crawford was quickly identified as the controller of the county line, which had been operating in the Congleton area since December 2024, whereas Tyrer acted as a street dealer.

A warrant was conducted at an address on Juniper Close in Holmes Chapel on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Crawford and Tyrer were subsequently arrested, and officers seized a quantity of crack cocaine, a quantity of heroin, and cash.

A list of drug dealers and drug paraphernalia, such as scales, were also recovered from the home.

The pair were subsequently charged with a string of offences, before being sentenced on Friday, October 17.

     

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