Men who ran drugs enterprise from Widnes kennels jailed

Three men who ran a drugs enterprise from a boarding kennels in Widnes, Cheshire, have been jailed for more than 12 years.

John Chester, Sam Mulhern and Ryan Holden all pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession of criminal property at Liverpool Crown Court.

The court heard how on Wednesday 15 October 2025, officers from Widnes Proactive CID conducted a warrant at Liverpool Boarding Kennels and Cattery on Hale Road, Widnes, following intelligence suggesting that the property was linked to illegal drugs.

Mulhearn attempted to evade officers by fleeing on foot, but was quickly detained by officers a short distance away and found in possession of a mobile phone linked to the supply of Class A drugs from a County Line known as ‘P’.

Holden, also attempted to leave but was detained by officers and was found in possession of 41 wraps of crack cocaine and 201 wraps of heroin, with a street value of £2,420.

Also within the address was Chester, who was found attempting to conceal mobile phones and a large quantity of cash under the floorboards of his bedroom.

All three suspects were arrested at the scene and taken to police custody where they answered ‘no comment’ to all the questions put to them by officers.

Despite their silence, they were all charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession of criminal property.

The trio were sentenced to a total of 12 years and four months in prison. Mulhern, 35, of Netherfield, Widnes, was jailed for five years and eight months; Chester, 43, of Hale Road, Widnes, was sentenced to four years in prison; and Holden, 32, of Hale Road, Widnes, was jailed for two years and eight months.

Following the sentencing, Police Constable Nicholls, of Halton Proactive CID, said: “I welcome the lengthy custodial sentences handed down by the court and I hope that they act as a warning to those involved in the sale of illegal drugs.

“This investigation shone a light on a County Lines operation that was operating under the guise of a dog kennel and cattery, highlighting the lengths that offenders will go to in order to conceal their criminal activities.

“Thankfully, as a result of our investigation, we have been able to bring down their criminal empire, and they are now facing the consequences of their actions.”