A TEENAGER arrested as police cracked down on drug dealing and youth violence in North Swindon walked from court after magistrates heard he had a baby on the way.

'Pants'

Liam Phillips, 18, was caught in his pants as officers stormed the suspected Upper Stratton drug den, where he was napping on a sofa.

Yesterday, the Ruskin Avenue teen, who has 12 pages-worth of previous convictions on his court record, walked from Swindon Magistrates Court with an 18 month community order after he admitted kicking the constable trying to arrest him in the face. He is now subject to a four week curfew and must pay £335 in fines, compensation and court costs.

Phillips, already subject to a suspended jail sentence for going equipped for burglary, was told by chairman of the bench Jane Flew: “This was an assault on a police constable executing his duty and you behaved appallingly. Your record so far is appalling. For a young man of 18 to have 12 pages of previous convictions is just awful.”

Citing the fact his girlfriend will give birth to the couple’s first child next spring, she added: “You’ve got to grow up. You’ve got to behave.”

Defending, Gordon Hotson said his client had kicked the officer as he was being restrained by the "forceful" officers. He admitted Phillips had hung out with the wrong crowd in the past. The prospect of becoming a father was already having an impact on the youngster: "He does not want to be the sort of father who's there for a bit then is inside for a bit. He wants to be the sort of father who's present while his daughter is growing up."

Phillips is not believed to be under investigation in relation to the drugs and cash found at the home where he was arrested.

Violence and drugs on streets of North Swindon

The arrest came as North Swindon police stamped down on drug dealing and a rising tide of gang violence in the area.

Over the weekend, police raided two homes in Upper Stratton and Penhill over suspicions residents were dealing drugs.

On Saturday morning, detectives seized an air pistol stashed in a child’s schoolbag from one house on Ruskin Avenue, together with cocaine, cannabis and live shotgun cartridges.

Later that day, officers raided another home in Penhill, collecting hundreds of pounds in cash, crack cocaine, cannabis, a knife and baton. Four boys, aged 16 to 18, have been arrested on suspicion of dealing drugs.

The drug haul from a Penhill raid. Picture: WILTSHIRE POLICE

The boys were also arrested in relation to a vicious fight in the Valley area of Penhill on Friday afternoon, which left a young man with knife wounds to his hands and arms.

Residents have complained of growing violence between groups from Penhill and Pinehurst. Their fears were compounded on Sunday afternoon, when armed police were called after reports of youngsters carrying weapons in the Corsham Road area.

'Report your concerns to us'

Insp Andy Bridge said: “It’s an area of concern to us that young men generally are choosing to settle their differences in such a way.”

He was worried young men were arming themselves with weapons: “That runs the risk of people being seriously injured. My message to those who choose to equip themselves with weapons is that when we get intelligence to identify who you are, we will take positive action as has been seen over the past couple of days.”

Insp Bridge added of the raids: “These are examples of how we are seeking to combat anything in relation to drug supply in our community.

“During [anti-knife campaign] Op Sceptre a number of weeks ago we recovered a number of weapons and drugs. We will always act on intelligence from our communities.”

He urged people to report concerns about drug dealing and other crimes to Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.