Nervous the 'feds' were going 'up and down his street'... he knew what was coming

A man who let dealers use his flat drugs packing moaned there were too many 'stoners' there. Ryan Lapworth, 45, became involved in the 'MJ' drugs line in Longsight due to his long-standing heroin addiction.

Between December last year and February this year, numerous calls were made to the line from people ordering crack and heroin. Lapworth allowed his council flat to be used on three occasions in exchange for money to fund his addiction, Manchester Crown Court heard.

In messages retrieved during a police investigation, Lapworth voiced his complaints to co-defendant Justin Shaw, who was said to be in control of the drugs line. "Being here [is] not a kindergarten for stoners," he messaged after three men smoked cannabis in his flat.

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Lapworth pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and was handed a suspended sentence. Shaw, 22, of Richmond Grove East, Manchester, will be sentenced on October 16.

Prosecutor Henry Blackshaw said that over a three-month period, up to 600 calls were made to the MJ line. The majority of the dealing of class A drugs happened in Longsight.

A warrant was executed at Lapworth's flat in Ardwick. A bag of white powder and a mobile phone were found. When Shaw was arrested, officers found a Nokia with the SIM card for the drugs line.

Mr Blackshaw said analysis of the call data revealed Lapworth was concerned about the police investigation. Messages included: "Been shotting and packing going on at mine."

"He appeared nervous in messages that the police or 'feds' were going 'up and down' his street," Mr Blackshaw added. "In one message from February 14 there was a further