A drugs transaction spotted by police outside a tower block in Waterloo led them to a drug-dealing operation in one of the flats.
Officers followed the man back inside the high-rise in Church Road, and on entering the flat they found a "continuously ringing" telephone and the man sitting on a sofa, with a small bag containing brown and white wraps between his legs.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the bag contained 54 wraps or "£10 deals" of crack cocaine, and another 22 wraps or "£10 deals" of heroin - worth £760 in total.
Today the dealer, Joseph Lynch, appeared in court for sentencing after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and diamorphine (heroin).
Derek Jones, prosecuting, said officers spotted Lynch outside the block of flats, Dean House, engaged in a drugs transaction with another person.
Mr Jones said Lynch had played a "significant role" in the street dealing operation.
Paul Becker, defending, admitted that Lynch had "acted in a very irresponsible and criminal way."
Mr Becker said Lynch, 25, had been a long-term cannabis user which had led to him getting into an £800 debt with criminal gangs, which resulted in him receiving a beating.
He added: "He was left with little choice but to take part in their criminality as he feared it would escalate."
Mr Becker said Lynch was "a family man" with two children by his girlfriend, who also had two more children who were not by Lynch.
He went on: "He has been able to stop using drugs altogether and distance himself from those who require him to become involved in their offending."
Judge Dennis Watson QC said he took account of Lynch's stated desire to turn his life around, and that he had been subject to strong pressure and some violence to get involved in drug dealing.
He sentenced Lynch, of Garnett Avenue, Kirkdale, to a jail term of two years, suspended for two years. A curfew was also imposed for three months, along with a requirement to carry out rehabilitation activity.
