By John Scheerhout,Rachel Smith
Copyright manchestereveningnews
A man who took so much cocaine his nose collapsed has been jailed after police found more than £20,000 of drugs at his home, Owen Knowles, 23, began using cocaine at the age of 14 and has been a ‘heavy user’ since. Preston Crown Court heard how on October 11, 2023, officers from the North West Regional Crime Unit executed a search warrant at his home in Oxcliffe Road in Morecombe, Lancashire, and discovered a large quantity of drugs, cutting agent and paraphernalia including digital scales, two mobile phones and £1800 in cash. The drugs included 43.5g of cocaine, 909g of ketamine, 437g of cannabis and 19 THC vape pens. The estimated street value was between £22,640 and £24,140, prosecutor Emily Land told the court. Sign up to the MEN Court newsletter here Knowles was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs, cocaine, and class B drugs ketamine and cannabis. The scales were found to have residue of all three drugs and the phones contained evidence of drug dealing, LancsLive reports. In interview he made no comment except to say he had a deviated septum as a result of drug misuse. However he later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs. Defending, Alex Beevers said Knowles had struggled at school due to issues with drugs and mental health conditions. He had accrued a significant drug debt and began dealing to pay it off. Knowles has since moved away from the Morecambe area since his arrest in an attempt to move away from criminality, he said. The Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham, said: “This wasn’t a one off. You knew the business you were engaged in and whilst you may have difficulties relating to others there is no suggestion you were unable to know the impact of drugs – including the fact you have suffered the impact yourself, including the loss, or virtual loss, of your nasal septum. “You knew dealing drugs was wrong and you were aware of the dangers of dealing and using drugs. You were obviously buying and cutting a large amount of drugs. You had an immense stock of illegal drugs – in excess of £20,000 – and a large amount of cutting agent.” Judge Altham took into account the defendant’s age, mental health conditions and the delay in bringing the case to sentence. He jailed Knowles for three years and four months.
