THREE Wirral drug dealers who attempted to smuggle cocaine, ecstasy and MDMA into Creamfields have been jailed for eight years.

Cheshire Police seized thousands of pounds worth of drugs from 12 defendants at the Daresbury dance music festival over the August bank holiday week last year.

All twelve were jailed for a total of 32 years at Chester Crown Court on Thursday and Friday last week, having attempted to smuggle the illicit substances into Creamfields using methods including stashing them in beer cans as well secreting Kinder eggs and condoms filled with drugs inside their bodies.

Many of the young defendants – who are all teenagers or in their early 20s – had no previous convictions, but are now serving prison sentences of between two and four years.

A number of those jailed had not intended to sell the drugs that they had smuggled into Creamfields, having instead taken substances into the festival to share among friends.

Bank telesales operator Adam Al-Najahi, of Eastham, was jailed for two years and eight months by his honour judge Roger Dutton after the 21-year-old admitted possession of ecstasy with intent to supply.

Al-Najahi, described in court as a ‘hard-working man from a good family’ and of previous good character, founds found in possession of 94 tablets – worth £940 – at the festival having planned to share the drugs with four friends.

Joseph Kirkham, of Tranmere, was given two years behind bars by judge Dutton after he was found with cocaine worth an estimated £1,240 in a condom hidden in his body.

The 21-year-old, who had no previous convictions and was described as ‘young and naïve’, admitted possession of a class A drug with intent to supply.

He had attempted to take the drugs into Creamfields in order to share the 31 packages of cocaine between himself and five friends.

Christopher Steven Parker, 21, of Bromborough, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs (MDMA).

He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

The operation led to the arrest of 153 people over the duration of the weekend - 131 of those were for drug related offences.

Detective sergeant Nicola Evans said: “Before the festival we worked really hard in trying to ensure that attendees were fully aware of the consequences they would face if they brought illegal drugs onto the site.

“They were also given every opportunity to get rid of the drugs in surrender bins before going through the search process.

"We were encouraged that the bins were more full than they had been previously – showing that the majority of people are listening to what we are telling them.

“The people sentenced last week are those who ignored that message, and they are now paying for that.”

The 12 Creamfields drugs dealers jailed and how long they will serve behind bars:

Lewis Collins, 21, of Abergele – three years and nine months

Arran Craven-Wharton, 23, of Cleethorpes – three years and six months

Christopher Parker, 21, of Bromborough – three years and four months

Jack Shone, 19, of Flintshire – three years and three months

Charlie Gratton, 22, Stockton-on-Tees – three years

Adam Al-Najahi, 21, of Eastham – two years and eight months

Alfred Hansen, 18, of Andover – two years and eight months

George Allgood, 21, of Godmanchester – two years and six months

Hannah Lewis, 21, of Edinburgh – two years and four months

Alexander Elliot, 18, of Musselburgh – two years and four months

Joseph Kirkham, 21, of Tranmere – two years

Jonathan Dubberley, 21, of Carlisle – one year