'Ducky' apologises to his customers for poor quality of drugs he sold them The dealer sent up a heroin and crack cocaine supply line in his own name but was left handing out freebies after complaints Christopher Duckworth (Image: Merseyside Police ) A drug dealer "apologised" to his customers for the poor quality of the heroin and crack cocaine he sold them. Christopher Duckworth set up the "Ducky" supply line in his own name, but was left handing out freebies as compensation after receiving complaints from users. Having been released by the police following one arrest, the dad then continued his involvement in peddling drugs but was caught again in spite of attempts to destroy evidence by smashing mobile phones. He now says that he "needs to change his ways". ‌ Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Thursday, that Duckworth was seen by police apparently dealing drugs from a house on Junction Lane in St Helens on July 29 last year. When searched, the 30-year-old, of Stephenson Road in Newton-le-Willows, was found to be in possession of £260 in cash and two mobile phones, one of which was "ringing constantly" and "messages popping up on the screen requesting drugs". Article continues below Iain Criddle, prosecuting, described how, when analysed, the device was found to contain a series of "flare messages" advertising heroin, crack cocaine and class C substance pregabalin for sale, as well as incoming requests to purchase such wares. However, he added: "On occasions, some users were complaining about the quality and or quantity of that which had been supplied to them. "The defendant dealt with these complaints and was in a position, on occasion, to apologise for the poor quality or low quantity of the drugs and say, as a form of compensation, that next time they could have two extra wraps for free. Clearly, the defendant has some responsibility over the supply chain rather than being somebody who is simply told to go out and supply wraps of heroin and crack cocaine to users." Duckworth was released under investigation following this arrest, but was then seen driving a black Audi car near to a block of flats in the town on March 25 this year. Having run into an apartment at the sight of officers, PCs followed him and recovered three further phones, which had seemingly been "smashed up to evade detection", from the address. ‌ One of these was said to have been "attribute to the Ducky line", which had been used to supply drugs in the area in a "county lines-style operation" over the previous month. Mr Criddle added: "The Ducky line was clearly attributable to the defendant, for no other reason than it is clearly his name. "[The phones] had been smashed, perhaps unfortunately for Mr Duckworth not to the extent that the police could not get any information from them. What the police were able to establish was that the Ducky county line, over a period of five weeks, had been sending out flare messages to users advertising that drugs were available and sold on approximately 14 days over that period." Duckworth was said to have been "clearly under the influence of controlled drugs" following this second arrest, but refused to provide a sample of blood after being conveyed to a police station. He has a total of 15 previous convictions for 22 offences, including receiving a 15-month imprisonment suspended for two years for possession of heroin and cannabis with intent to supply in 2021. ‌ This sentence was subsequently breached however, resulting in him serving the prison term. Joanne Daniels, defending, told the court today: "He has been practical. He is looking into educational courses that the prison offers and wants to pursue these. "He is in a relationship. He gets on well with his parents. The defendant has two daughters from a previous relationship. One of his daughters is currently one year old. The other is 10 years old. He wants to be a better father than he has been. He knows that, to do that, he needs to change his ways. "Drugs have almost always been a feature in his life, and they have simply taken over. This pattern began as a youth. Since then, it has spiralled and escalated into supply. ‌ "It is a very hard habit to shake, and it was very easy to slip into old ways. At the age of 30, after serving a custodial sentence for these matters and after a period of sobriety, there is still time for the defendant to change his ways." Duckworth admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, being concerned in the supply of pregabalin and failing to provide a specimen of blood for analysis. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a khaki green Under Armour tracksuit, he was jailed for five years and four months and banned from driving for five years. Sentencing, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: "Such was your role that, when there were complaints made about quality or quantity, you were able to respond saying that you would give them compensation. That clearly shows that you were in control of that graft phone. Article continues below "Anybody who deals drugs in this city at the level that you have been dealing at will receive a custodial sentence. You only need to spend a few days in these courts to realise the devastating effect that these drugs have on the community. You involved yourself in peddling misery to others. "You clearly had an operational and management function within this chain of supply. I do not doubt that there were others above you in the chain but, in my judgement, you were clearly playing a significant role. "This was dealing directly to street users. In your case, it was not just dealing on a couple of occasions. This was you operating and controlling a graft phone on two occasions. I hope that it is right that you intend to spend your time in custody productively and that you hope to turn your life around, not least for your daughters."