NINE men who were charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine following a series of dawn raids in Chester and the surrounding area have appeared in court.

A total of eight males appeared at Warrington Magistrates Court yesterday, with the ninth defendant appearing there this morning (July 1).

The case was sent to Chester Crown Court and the next hearing will take place on July 28.

Officers executed warrants at addresses in Blacon, Upton, Saughall, Ellesmere Port and Broughton, Flintshire, on June 29.

The raids were carried out by officers from Chester Local Policing Unit with the support of a number of Special Constables, the Impact Unit and officers from the Cheshire and North Wales Armed Policing Alliance.

As a result, nine men have been charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine).

Three of the defendants were remanded in custody:

  • Ryan Wallace, 22, of Whitchurch Road, Chester
  • Frederick Pendleton, 44, of West Street, Chester
  • Alex Freeman, 21, of HMP Berwyn, Wrexham (case heard today)

The rest were released on either conditional or unconditional bail until the next hearing:

  • Ashley White, 28, of Canalside, Chester, conditional bail
  • Bradley Wong, 21, of Blacon Point Road, Chester, unconditional bail
  • Ryan Sheppard, 23, of Newhall Road, Upton, Chester, unconditional bail
  • Fergus Rideal, 21, of Long Lane, Saughall, unconditional bail
  • James McLeod, 30, of Hillside Road, Chester, conditional bail
  • Josseph Birthwright, 21, Parkfield Road, Broughton, unconditional bail