A DRUG dealer was caught after he was spotted wandering around Lime Street train station with a "vacant look" and smelling of cannabis, a court heard.

25-year-old Connor Beauchamp was arrested by officers but a few months later he was stopped again and found to be carrying drugs and an "extendable rubber baton". 

At Liverpool Crown Court, Henry Riding, prosecuting, said that at around 2pm on February 25 2020, a male police officer stopped Beauchamp, of Rosedale Road, Tranmere, because he smelled strongly of cannabis.

The officer added that Beauchamp had a "vacant look" and "reddening eyes" and when a backpack he was carrying was searched the officer discovered 40 esctasy tablets, 21 snap bags containing 22.5 grams of cannabis, 38 tablets of Dihydrocodeine (a prescription opiate painkiller), 50 Tramadol (a strong painkiller used to treat severe pain), a large quantity of Pregablin (used to treat epilepsy and anxiety) and various items including scales, snap bags, sticky labels and "tick lists" containing names of customers. 

Beauchamp was arrested and gave a no comment interview before he was released under investigation. 

Mr Riding said that on June 3 2020, Beauchamp was approached by a female officer on Ellesmere Road in Tranmere due to her noticing a strong smell of cannabis.

She described Beauchamp as appearing "nervous" and when searched he was found to be carrying two tubs of cannabis and 13 cards soaked in dimethoxyamphetamine (also known as DOC) which was described by Mr Riding as a "psychedelic amphetamine".

Beauchamp was also carrying an "extendable rubber baton" and another card soaked in DOC was found at his home address. 

Mr Riding said it was clear Beauchamp was playing a "significant role" in drug dealing and added he had "numerous previous offences of petty dishonesty". 

Bernice Campbell, defending, said Beauchamp had stolen the prescription drugs from his mother's supply and added he had a "difficult relationship with his parents" who were seperated.

"He has had a desperate upbringing and a very sad one," she said. 

Ms Campbell said Beauchamp had struggled at school with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

"He is a very upset boy who doesn't really know what is going on his life," she added. "He is very, very scared of going into custody."

Sentencing Beauchamp, who pleaded guilty to seven charges relating to the possession and supply of drugs and one of possessing an offensive weapon, to 30 months imprisonment, Judge Garrett Byrne, added: "You are young and rather immature and I accept you have suffered from various challenges."