The council tried to ban Big Issue sellers from the city centre

William Williams, 36, was arrested as part of Operation Manton - which targeted those involved in drug dealing in the city centre.

Williams, of Court Avenue, Halewood, was caught in a police sting after officers got him to buy them drugs.

He was jailed for two-and-a-half years at Liverpool Crown Court after he admitted supplying heroin and crack.

Williams was arrested in January last year.

Council 'ban'

In October, the council told Big Issue sellers they could not operate in the city centre after more than 54 people - not all of whom were vendors - were arrested over alleged drug dealing.

The Big Issue reacted with fury, saying the police and council were engaged in a "headline grabbing stunt".

But the police said they applauded the work of the Big Issue and said it was only some sellers who were betraying the Big Issue's trust.

The sellers were back on their pitches by the end of October, after the council admitted they had no powers to ban the vendors.

The Liberal Democrat-controlled council claimed it had never banned the sellers, but had just suspended their pitches.