‘Drug gang’ trial date is set

It is claimed that Nathan Rutter, of Wigan Road, Leigh, drove a Volvo car dangerously along roads including Leigh Road, Wigan Road, Browning Street and Keats Street on April 28 last year and on the same day was found in possession of a knife, machete and taser, the last of these being without the justice secretary’s permission.

It is further alleged that four days earlier, 20-year-old Rutter was armed with a pepper spray cannister. And he is also accused of conspiring to supply both heroin and cocaine between August 2018 and February this year.

Five other men face the same dealing charges. They are Jamie Ashcroft, 21, of Keble Grove, Leigh, Shaun Bowden, 29, of Wavertree Avenue, Atherton, Chrisopher Barnes, 30, of Yew Tree Avenue, Atherton, Adam Jarir, 28, of Kingsland Crescent, Liverpool and Rhys Jones, 21, of Railway Road, Leigh.

And Marie Ledwith, 38, of Hilda Street, Leigh, is accused of allowing her home to be used for the taking of cocaine and heroin.

A provisional trial date of October 7 was set by a Bolton judge, with a pre-trial preparation hearing on April 15.

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