A former roofer turned drug dealer from near Oswestry who ran away from police by jumping into a river has been jailed for more than three years.

Jordan Warren, aged 25, and of Birch Grove in Ruyton XI Towns, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday (September 22) for his role in supplying heroin and crack cocaine over a 14-month period across Shropshire, and for money laundering and assaulting an emergency worker.

"The most worrying thing I read was that you left your job as a roofer to supply drugs," Judge Anthony Lowe said. "What is clear it was a much easier way to make money.

"You preferred to make an easy buck. Well, this is what happens if you go down that route. At least being a roofer doesn’t end you up in prison."

The court heard that on May 22 in the Sundorne area of Shrewsbury, police attempted to apprehend Warren but as he cycled towards a senior officer, he pushed his bike towards her and cycled away on another bike into a wooded area.

Border Counties Advertizer: The River Severn across from the Sundorne area of ShrewsburyThe River Severn across from the Sundorne area of Shrewsbury (Image: Jeremy Bolwell/Geograph.org)

Later that afternoon, "aggressive" Warren swung a punch at police which failed to make contact after they spotted him crossing a bridge soaking wet.

He later apologised to the senior officer for running away and told police that he jumped into the river and swam across to Telford Way. Police found £385 cash, black bags, a Visa card belonging to another woman, and a set of scales and paraphernalia for supplying drugs inside a soaking wet bag, the court heard.

A burner phone was seized which revealed that Warren had in March 2022 sent global messages offering drugs, and the device was frequently used at his Ruyton XI Towns address. The court was told that bulk messages were sent earlier this year saying that he had the "best of both" meaning he was advertising crack cocaine and heroin.

The judge was told that Warren had a "significant" role with a "long period of dealing in the area".

Warren was sentenced to three years and six months after he pleaded guilty to two drug charges as well as possession of criminal property and common assault of an emergency worker.

His co-defendants Lewis Doran, aged 22, from Shrewsbury, and 36-year-old Nathan Smout – of no fixed abode – also appeared in front of Judge Lowe for sentencing.

Doran, the youngest of the three defendants, was jailed for three years and three months for his “significant” role in the “unsophisticated arrangement” of supplying and possessing Class A drugs. The judge said it was slightly reduced because of his mental health issues which the court heard about his concerned family had made attempts to deal with his psychosis problems by trying to get an urgent referral to a mental health team.  

His barrister said: “Rather tragically, it’s a young man who has psychosis relating to drug abuse and he has been trying to deal with that. Maybe had it been dealt with he may not have been here.”

Smout, who has been in custody for more than three months, was jailed for two years after admitting being concerned in the supply of both heroin and crack cocaine.

The self-described crack cocaine addict, who was stopped by police with Doran inside Sundorne Sports Centre in May, said he was used as a “joey” for supplying drugs in the area for a cash reward to pay his debts.

Judge Lowe told Smout: “I’m afraid those who deal with drugs, even if it is in relation to a drug debt, one of the things you said you had to fund a habit that was costing you £80 a day. You’re not so dissimilar to Mr Warren, finding an easy way to fund that habit. That means a deterrent sentence is put forward to you and others.”