A man wanted by police for breaching the terms of his licence gave officers a fake name but his real phone number, a court was told.
Jordan Walmsley, of HMP Altcourse, formerly of Southport, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine, possession of cannabis, perverting the course of justice and failing to surrender. Iain Criddle, prosecuting, told the court that on June 21 last year, police officers saw Walmsley involved in what they believed to be a drug transaction.
He was spoken to and cocaine found in his possession was seized, but he gave a friend's name. Police, believing he had no previous convictions, then gave Walmsley a community resolution, meaning no charges filed, which if they had known his true identity would not have been granted.
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Later that day, Mr Baird contacted police to confirm his details had been used and that he had not been the person stopped. Mr Criddle added: “The following day, the defendant was seen driving a Vauxhall van going into an address in Southport.
“He was arrested and immediately admitted that he was the person spoken to by officers the previous day and that he had lied.
"He produced a small amount of cannabis which he said was for personal use.”
Walmsley was arrested and answered no comment to all questions. Following these offences and pleading guilty, Walmsley was due to appear in Liverpool Crown Court to be sentenced but did not attend, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He has 19 previous convictions for 30 offences, including in 2021 when he was handed a 15 month sentence for possession of prohibited weapons, possession with intent to supply, racially aggravated assault, possession of an offensive weapon and a bail act offence. Paul Wood, defending, said giving fake information was an “unplanned and unsophisticated” operation, and that Walmsley actually gave officers his own personal phone number.
He also pointed out that when arrested the following day, Walmsley told officers “I lied to you yesterday”, and was hiding from them as he knew he was due to be recalled to prison after breaking conditions not to see his partner. Walmsley said he told the friend immediately, who was then able to call police and confirm that his information had been falsely given.
In sentencing, Judge Brian Cummings KC said: “What you did was quite deliberate, it was a deliberate attempt to avoid being identified and the consequences of that, which you knew would be being recalled on licence.
"On the other hand it was a spur of the moment [act] and it was unsophisticated.”
Walmsley was sentenced to eight months imprisonment and forfeiture and destruction of the drugs was ordered.
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