A man has been sentenced after carrying a class A drugs haul worth almost £5,000 to Blackpool on the train.

Adam Chothia, of Heys View in Huddersfield, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article, two counts of possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin and possession of cannabis.

He was jailed for 21 months suspended for 18 months at Preston Crown Court on Monday, September 2 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £187.

British Transport Police’s County Lines taskforce spotted Chothia leaving Blackpool North station behaving suspiciously and using two mobile phones, one of them clearly a burner phone.

When officers approached him Chothia’s furtive and evasive behaviour further raised their suspicions.

He admitted to carrying a small amount of cannabis and was detained for a search during which officers found an eight-inch Rambo style knife in his waistband.

Along with the cannabis he was found to be carrying cocaine and heroin worth £5,000.

Investigating officer DC Andrew Margerison said: “Anyone who uses the railway to transport and trade in illicit drugs should know that it is just a matter of time before we catch them.

“We have eyes everywhere and our highly trained specialist officers know just what to look out for.

“Anyone involved in criminality on the railway should expect us at every turn. They may not spot us but we’re watching them.”