Northwich man jailed again after running drugs ring from his prison cell
The moment Samuel Watts was arrested as he left HMP Kirkham after serving a previous sentence
A man who saw his prison term as an "inconvenience rather than a punishment" has been jailed once more after he admitted dealing drugs from his cell.
Samuel Watts, 34, was serving a three-year prison term at HMP Kirkham, in Preston, after he admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis and possession of a weapon.
But by July 2024 police uncovered intelligence suggesting that Watts, of Thornley Green in Northwich, Cheshire, had a mobile phone and was coordinating the sale of illegal drugs in the town from his prison cell.
Watts was later searched in his cell where prison officers discovered an iPhone strapped to his waist, which later analysis showed carried a string of messages proving he was involved in the sale of illegal drugs.
He was then arrested as he left HMP Kirkham following his release for his previous offences, in November 2024, and has now been sentenced to four years and four months in prison at Burnley Crown Court.
Following the sentencing Police Constable Dan Lee, of Cheshire Police's Northwich Proactive CID, said: 'Watts saw his initial prison sentence as an inconvenience rather than a punishment.
"After smuggling a mobile phone into the prison, he thought that he could simply continue to run his criminal enterprise from behind bars, directing people lower down the chain to deliver drugs on his behalf.
'However, he clearly underestimated the dedication and determination of the team here at Northwich Proactive CID.
"As soon as we became aware of his latest activities we brought them to a swift conclusion and were ready to arrest him as he was released from prison.
'I welcome the latest sentence handed to Watts and hopefully this time he'll use his time behind bars to reflect upon his actions rather than trying to set up another business venture, otherwise we'll be waiting for him again next time he's released.'
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Moment drug dealer re-arrested leaving HMP Kirkham near Preston
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This is the shocking moment a drug dealer was arrested at the prison gates - just seconds after leaving jail. Samuel Watts had just been released from HMP Kirkham after a three-year sentence for a drug dealing plot, but only tasted freedom for a matter of seconds. As he left the prison gates, officers placed the criminal in handcuffs as he can be heard saying 'you don't know what I've gone through'. After being placed under arrest in November, Watts has now been jailed for another four years and four months after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs (cocaine) while serving a prison sentence. The 34-year-old, of Thornley Green, was originally locked up in September 2023 for dealing cocaine and cannabis, Burnley Crown Court was told. In July last year, officers at Northwich Proactive CID discovered intelligence suggesting Watts was in possession of a mobile and was coordinating the sale of drugs from his prison cell. Prison officers then searched Watts and found an Apple iPhone strapped to his waist. Watts was originally locked up in September 2023 for dealing cocaine and cannabis, Burnley Crown Court was told. In July last year, officers at Northwich Proactive CID discovered intelligence suggesting Watts was in possession of a mobile and was coordinating the sale of drugs from his prison cell The phone was later analysed by officers who a catalogue of messages that proved he was selling illegal drugs. Police Constable Dan Lee, Of Northwich Proactive CID, said: 'Watts saw his initial prison sentence as an inconvenience rather than a punishment. 'After smuggling a mobile phone into the prison, he thought that he could simply continue to run his criminal enterprise from behind bars, directing people lower down the chain to deliver drugs on his behalf. 'However, he clearly underestimated the dedication and determination of the team here at Northwich Proactive CID. 'As soon as we became aware of his latest activities we brought them to a swift conclusion and were ready to arrest him as he was released from prison. 'I welcome the latest sentence handed to Watts and hopefully this time he'll use his time behind bars to reflect upon his actions rather than trying to set up another business venture, otherwise we'll be waiting for him again next time he's released.'
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a day ago
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Every parent's nightmare as respected teacher exposed as paedophile who preyed on young girls
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An investigation was subsequently launched by detectives from the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) at Cheshire Police and during their enquiries officers established that Clark was the suspect in the case. A warrant was conducted at his home in May, 2023, and four devices were seized from the address. During subsequent analysis officers discovered that Clark had been posing as a teenager using the Snapchat account. The judge said the truth must have come as a "terrible shock" to the victims and their families. He branded Clark a "dangerous" offender. Clark was given an eight year term, with four more years on licence on his release, for inciting a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity. The remaining jail terms, which are all concurrent, range from 40 months to four months. Clark also received concurrent sentences of eight months, four months and four weeks for making indecent images in categories A, B and C. The judge told the defendant he represented a 'significant risk' to children. Judge Berkson said: 'It is, of course, every parent's worst nightmare, this sort of thing happening to their children. 'Many of the offences involve sexual communication, some involving inciting children to engage in sexual activity. This was well planned and sophisticated criminal behaviour. 'You clearly have a sexual interest from the sexual abuse of children and gain sexual gratification from it.' Clark's barrister, Jeremy Rawson, referred to a "black side" to him. He said: "He has lost everything as a result of this. "There's a black side to his character which is unrestrained and he gave into it and he bitterly regrets it." He went on: "It's a terribly sad case. It's sad for those children whose trust has been abused. It's sad for the parents of those children whose trust has been marred by this man. 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Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Louise Murphy and Detective Constable Megan Griffiths, who led the investigation, said: 'Firstly, we would like to praise the victims in this case for the bravery and courage that they have shown throughout this investigation. "Clark was a teacher, he held a position of trust, and the messages we recovered clearly showed that he was well aware that his victims were all under the age of 16, but despite this he continued his crimes in order to satisfy his own warped sexual desires. 'It was apparent throughout the investigation that Clark is a sexual predator who preyed on young girls, with no regard for the effects his actions would have on the victims or their families. 'While they will never be able to forget what he did, we hope the sentence handed to Clark will provide the victims with some closure and allow them to move forward with their lives.' An NSPCC spokesperson said: 'As a teacher Clark had a duty to keep children safe. 'Instead for seven years he posed as a teenage boy on a social media platform, using his fake profile to target and groom young girls before persuading them to send naked images of themselves. 'This kind of sexual abuse can have a devastating impact on the victims and it is vital all the children involved in this case have access to the support they need to move forwards with their lives. Article continues below 'This case also highlights the need for social media sites to be doing much more to protect children and prevent offenders like Clark from using their platforms to carry out their crimes.'
