A drug dealer who dumped a can of CS gas which was found by a young girl has been jailed for three years.

Christopher McDonald, 46, left the chemical canister in the street in Macclesfield as he fled police, the court heard.

Known also as tear gas, exposure causes a burning sensation to the eyes, nose, mouth and throat.

The can was found by a girl who was narrowly prevented from picking it up by her dad, prosecutors said.

McDonald, of Macclesfield, was eventually caught in possession of heroin and cocaine, as well as cash, mobile phones and his list of ‘customers’, the court heard.

At Chester Crown Court on April 22 he admitted supplying cocaine and heroin and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Phillip Clemo, prosecuting, said: “On March 25, 2015, at 12.35pm police stopped their car alongside this defendant while he was on a push bike. He got off the bike, disregarded it and ran away.

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“He was caught running along Poynton Street in Macclesfield. Officers searched him and found two mobile phones, a sim card, a tick list and £240 cash.

“At 3.45pm that day [a father], was walking with his infant daughter.

“She noticed what appeared to be an aerosol can on the road and went to pick it up.

“Her father stopped her and noticed it had the words CS on it. He was concerned and called the police who advised him to leave it in a safe place. So he put it behind a telephone box.

“It was later picked up by police and DNA on the canister matched McDonald.

“The mobile phone showed he had been dealing heroin and cocaine. A dealer list was found at his home. He claimed the mobile phones were communal and used by lots of people.”

The court heard that McDonald has a long record, with 54 convictions for 196 offences including a previous conviction for drug trafficking. He appeared in custody from prison, where he is serving a sentence of 40 months for burglary.

Maria Marcellus, defending, said McDonald’s offending was prompted by his drugs use.

She said: “He has an appalling record. He was homeless and couldn’t get a job so he took the easy way of making money.

Judge Nicholas Langdale sentenced McDonald to 30 months for each drugs charge run concurrently and six months for the offensive weapon.