A DRUG addict turned dealer has been jailed after committing more than 100 offences.
Winsford resident Angela McDougall has been sentenced to five years and eight months in prison following her involvement in the sale of £95,000 of illegal substances.
The 44-year-old of High Street is an addict and claims she dealt to feed her habit.
Detective constable Dean Butterworth of Northwich Proactive Policing Unit said: “As a drug addict herself McDougall was well aware of the harmful consequences of illegal drugs, but despite this she chose to sell drugs to other vulnerable people across the Winsford area.
“While she claimed that she was only dealing drugs to feed her own habit, it is clear that having been involved in the sale of more than £95,000 worth of illegal drugs she was a major dealer in the area and this has been reflected in the significant sentence that she was handed by the judge.”
McDougall was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday (August 9).
It comes after she pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, namely heroin and crack cocaine, and one count of being concerned in the supply of class B drugs, Ketamine.
She also admitted to possession of crack cocaine and cannabis, a class B drug.
McDougall is believed to be one of the first women in the UK to be sentenced under the ‘three strikes’ laws introduced as part of the Sentencing Act 2020.
Under this legislation, anyone convicted of drug dealing on three occasions faces a 'significantly increased' sentence.
Sergeant Paul Cundy of Winsford Beat Team added: “McDougall is a prolific offender who has been convicted of more than 100 offences over the years, but thankfully she is now behind bars.
“This is a fantastic result and I hope that it provides reassurance to the local community.
“Here in Winsford we are doing all we can to stop drug activity on our streets to make the town a safer place to live and visit while also making it extremely difficult for dealers like McDougall 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.”
The latest case against McDougall began in July 2022, when officers from Northwich Proactive Policing Unit received intelligence that she was dealing again.
A warrant was conducted at her home in Winsford on July 25, during which officers recovered a small amount of crack cocaine, cannabis, and three mobile phones.
Analysis of the phones revealed hundreds of messages indicating she was dealing drugs.
Officers also found that despite being unemployed, more than £95,000 has been paid into McDougall's bank account in small amounts of between £25 and £100.
The majority of the cash was then transferred into the account of an unknown accomplice.
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