A DRUG dealer was caught by police after he sent messages to a woman threatening to kill her boyfriend.

Reece Davies, 20, was jailed for two years and six months at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply and making threats to kill.

Adam Lodge, prosecuting, said that on June 17, 2019, police received a complaint that Davies, of Derwent Walk, Whitefield, had sent threatening messages to two women.

One of them read: "Tell your boyfriend he's a dead man. He's getting shot".

A photograph was also attached showing two knives and a firearm.

Another message read: "Get your best friend to tell her specky (sic) boyfriend I'm going to leave holes in him. Tell him I'm going to cut both his ears off his head. Get the message to him he's a dead man."

Officers attended Davies' address where he lived with his grandmother and he was arrested.

He told officers the weapons were in his bedroom and they recovered two knives and an air pistol.

They also found a sock containing numerous bags of cocaine and a JD Sports bag filled with cannabis in 1,200 single deal bags.

Analysis estimated the cannabis to be worth £14,460 while 44 grams of high purity cocaine recovered was said to have a value of £3,400.

Mr Lodge added that Davies, who was aged 19 at the time of the offences, had no previous convictions.

Michael Johnson, defending, said Davies was "estranged from his mum" at the time of the offences and a younger relative had been the victim of a serious assault resulting in the messages.

Mr Johnson added that Davies "had been roped into wider drug dealing" and "had no choice but to do their bidding" after getting into debt to more established dealers.

Sentencing Davies, Recorder Eric Lamb, said: "The offences involve the evil dissemination of drugs which have a ruinous affect on society.

"You know just what a devastating effect drugs have on people but because you yourself were seeking to get involved in the drugs industry because of your own financial difficulties."