Bolton Drug Dealer Stephen Critchley Jailed for Four Years 2026

Key Points

• On Wednesday, 4 November, 2026, Chester Crown Court sentenced Stephen Critchley, 26 years old, from Stowell Court, Bolton to four years in jail.
• Originally, Critchley was sentenced for two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, two counts of involvement in supplying Class A drugs, and possession of criminal property.
• Cheshire Police reported that the preliminary stages of the investigation started in August 2026 after the police discovered that a mobile phone, dubbed the “Hugo Line,” was being used for selling heroin and crack cocaine in Macclesfield.
• The police monitored the numbers and claimed that the phone was frequently used by Critchley for reporting purposes in his vehicles.
• A police raid on a flat in the Range Court region of Macclesfield resulted in Critchley being caught, and according to the police, they discovered Class A drugs, a mobile phone, SIM cards, and some cash in the investigation.
• According to reports published by Chester Standard, prosecutor Helen Randall informed the court that 210 pounds worth of the crack cocaine was discovered along with heroin worth 280 pounds.
• Cheshire Police reported that during the police interrogation, Critchley opted for the ‘No Comments’ option.

Bolton Crime (Manchester Mirror) November 04, 2026 — A 26-year-old Bolton man has been jailed for four years after police said a trail of mobile-phone messages linked him to the supply of heroin and crack cocaine in Macclesfield.

Stephen Critchley, of Stowell Court, Bolton, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, November 4, where he received a four-year prison sentence. The case concerned drug offending between August 28 and October 6, 2026.

As reported by Macclesfield Nub News, Critchley had previously admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, and possession of criminal property. The Chester Standard reported that he entered those pleas at Chester Magistrates’ Court on October 7.

What Did Cheshire Police Say About the ‘Hugo Line’?

Cheshire Police said its investigation began in August 2026 after officers became aware of a mobile phone number being used to sell illegal drugs in Macclesfield. The force said the number sent “flare messages” advertising heroin and crack cocaine.

In court, prosecutor Helen Randall said the number was called the “Hugo Line” and was used to facilitate the supply of heroin and crack cocaine in Macclesfield. As reported by the Chester Standard, she said: “It was used to send out flare messages and the defendant’s two vehicles and both attributed to him traveling between Bolton and Macclesfield with the graft phone.”

Cheshire Police said enquiries established that the phone travelled regularly between Bolton and Macclesfield in a vehicle registered to Critchley. Officers also said the flare messages were sent from an address in the Range Court area of Macclesfield.

What Did Police Find During the Macclesfield Raid?

After gathering evidence, officers executed a warrant at a flat on Range Court, where they located Critchley. Cheshire Police said a search of the address found a small quantity of Class A drugs and the mobile phone allegedly used to send the flare messages.

The Chester Standard reported that an address linked to Critchley was raided and that SIM cards, phones and £630 in cash were recovered. Ms Randall also told the court that a wide-open window may have been used to throw items out when officers entered.

According to the prosecution, Class A drugs were found with £210 of crack cocaine and £280 of heroin. The Chester Standard reported that Critchley gave a no-comment interview after his arrest. Cheshire Police separately confirmed that he answered no comment to all questions put to him by officers.

Why Was Stephen Critchley Sentenced to Four Years?

Critchley was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for each drugs offence, with the terms to run concurrently. He also received eight months for possession of criminal property.

The Chester Standard reported that Judge Berkson described the offences as forming “the same period of criminality”. The judge said Critchley had returned to offending after losing his job, while noting previous convictions for similar offences and the involvement of multiple drugs as aggravating factors.

The court heard that Critchley was on licence at the time of the offences, having been jailed in November 2024 for dealing cocaine and heroin.

What Mitigation Was Put Before the Court?

Defence barrister Niamh Leong said her client was “realistic about the outcome” and accepted the likely sentence. She told the court there was no evidence that he involved others in the enterprise and that he was not living a lavish lifestyle.

Ms Leong said Critchley’s early guilty plea was his main mitigation. She said he had worked as a delivery driver, his partner was pregnant, and he had turned to street dealing after losing his job to boost family income. The court heard that his partner later had a miscarriage and that he became a carer for his mother following his father’s death.

Critchley read an emotional letter to the court by video link and took full accountability for his actions. According to the Chester Standard, he said he had taken on too much work, became burnt out, and tried to find work closer to his partner in Macclesfield.

Judge Berkson acknowledged mitigating factors, saying that letters from Critchley and his mother showed “there is still a lot of good in you”.

What Did Cheshire Police Say After the Sentencing?

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Lewis Williamson said illegal drugs have a “hugely detrimental impact” on communities. He said Cheshire Police remained committed to cutting supply and removing dealers from the streets.

“In this case, we discovered a significant number of messages on Critchley’s mobile phone which showed he was actively dealing drugs in the Macclesfield area, leaving him with no option but to plead guilty to the charges against him,”

DC Williamson said, as reported by Macclesfield Nub News.

DC Williamson welcomed the sentence and said he hoped it would reassure residents. He appealed to anyone with information about drug activity or other crime to contact police on 101, through the force website, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Background of the Development

The case forms part of ongoing police action against county-lines drug supply, in which dealers travel from one area to another to sell Class A drugs. Cheshire Police said Critchley’s phone was used to send flare messages advertising heroin and crack cocaine in Macclesfield, while travel data and vehicle registrations linked the device to journeys between Bolton and Macclesfield.

Critchley’s arrest followed a warrant at a flat in Range Court, Macclesfield, on October 6, 2026. He was subsequently charged with drug-supply offences and possession of criminal property, appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court the next day, and was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect the Local Audience

For residents of Bolton and Macclesfield, the sentencing may reinforce police messaging that mobile-phone evidence, vehicle data and local intelligence can be used to identify suspected drug-supply activity. Cheshire Police has said it hopes the sentence provides reassurance to residents and encourages people to report concerns.

For people affected by drug-related crime, the case may lead to continued visible policing and community reporting around suspected dealing. However, the underlying demand for Class A drugs and the wider county-lines supply model remain matters for local enforcement, health services and community support organisations to address.