Barrow man jailed following stop search as part of Clear Hold Build initiative

A man who was stopped by officers as part of local initiative ‘Clear Hold Build’ (known locally as ‘Happy Hopeful Hindpool’) has been jailed for two years and one month for drugs offences.

Konstantinos Kalpaxis, aged 28, of no fixed abode was sentenced at Preston Crown Court for possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Kalpaxis was stopped by officers at a petrol station in Ulverston in August this year. He was asked to step out of the vehicle by officers and upon getting out of the vehicle a snap lock bag containing white powder was found on the driver’s seat where he sat.

Whilst conducting a vehicle at Barrow Police station, officers found a small black plastic box with a magnet on near to the spare wheel in the boot. Inside the box, officers located a further quantity of snap lock bags containing Class A drugs.

Kalpaxis was also not the registered owner of the vehicle therefore the vehicle was seized from his possession.

Detective Constable Laurin McKie said: “We proactively work to identify and challenge anyone we suspect to be supplying drugs in our communities and Kalpaxis is exactly the type of offender that the ‘Clear Hold Build’ initiative aims to target.

“Cumbria Police will continue to do everything in our power to tackle harmful activity such as this and to take harmful drugs off our streets.

“I hope this conviction sends a clear message to those involved in drug dealing in our area – we will pursue you and bring you to justice.

“If you have any information about drug related activity in your area, please report this to police”.

'Clear Hold Build' is a three-phase initiative, which is known locally as ‘Happy Hopeful Hindpool’. The strategy will see criminals and their associates targeted and cleared from the Hindpool area through a persistent police presence and intelligence led operations, all supported by partners and residents.