THE detective in charge of Wiltshire’s drugs squads has taken aim at the unscrupulous Fagins forcing children into selling drugs.

It came as Swindon Crown Court heard one 17-year-old living alone in Dickensian-like poverty had turned to dealing heroin and crack cocaine because the electricity had been cut off and there was nothing in the fridge.

Another youngster, then aged 17, had the windows of his family’s Pinehurst home put in by one drug gangs after losing their product to police. He was later attacked by the gang in a chip shop.

The pair were among 15 alleged drug dealers netted in an undercover police operation last summer and hauled before the courts this week. Judges handed down more than 16 years-worth of jail time to four men yesterday.

Of the 15 before the courts on Thursday and Friday seven were aged 25 or under – with two unable to vote when they were snared by the drugs squad.

Swindon Advertiser:

Paul Franklin Picture: TREVOR PORTER

Det Insp Paul Franklin, head of Wiltshire Police’s dedicated crime team, warned that County Lines gangs were perfectly content to press-gang youngsters into the drugs trade. “Using children to deal drugs is immoral and completely inexcusable and this behaviour will not be tolerated in our community.”

He said: “It is no secret that we are continuing to see young people caught up in the misery that county lines brings to our communities.

“I fully appreciate that this will cause concern in our communities but please be reassured that we continue to work extremely hard with partner agencies, including the local authorities, schools and colleges to better educate young people of the dangers they are putting themselves in by getting involved in criminal gangs.

“These gangs will often exploit young people and promise them money and other expensive items in exchange for them doing their dirty work and acting as runners – delivering class A drugs to users in our community.

“However, the reality is very different – these young people are put in extremely dangerous situations and made to live in horrendous conditions to carry out this work.

“They run the risk of being assaulted, robbed for drugs and cash, and ultimately in a lot of debt with the network they are working for.”

He warned parents to be alive to the signs their children were being targeted by the County Lines gangs. Those signs could include going missing or unexpectedly having cash or flashy goods.

Yesterday, Swindon Crown Court dealt with 13 cases:

  • Grant Townsend, 22, of Norwood Close, Liden, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine to “Steve” on August 13. Adjourned to a date to be fixed.
  • Blair Egerton, 31, of Manor Crescent, Swindon, admitted supplying heroin and crack cocaine to “Yasmin” on August 22 and September 11. Adjourned for sentence on March 26.
  • Ryan Price, 39, of Oxford Street, Swindon, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine to “Yasmin” on September 19. Adjourned for sentence to March 19.
  • Jamie Osbourne, 29, of William Street, Swindon, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine to “Amy” on June 18 and to “Yasmin” on September 25. Adjourned to a date to be fixed.
  • Paul White, 56, of no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to supplying crack cocaine and heroin to “Steve” on May 1, heroin to “Paul” on May 7, crack cocaine to “Steve” on May 7, crack cocaine to “Rob” on May 14, and crack cocaine and heroin to “Rob” on May 29. His cased was listed for trial on May 11.
  • Jerome Sewell, 25, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and possession of £321.70 in criminal property. Jailed for 5 years and 8 months for the drugs and nine months for possession of the cash.

Swindon Advertiser:

Hector McLean Picture: WILTSHIRE POLICE

  • Hector McLean, 50, of Fordmill Road, London, admitted being concerned jointly with Rajae Orlebar in supplying a quantity of crack cocaine to “Steve” on May 16 and supplying heroin and crack cocaine to “Steve” on May 29, and witness intimidation. Jailed for four years.
  • Rajae Orlebar, 24, of Cairns Place, Streatham, admitted supplying heroin and crack cocaine to “Steve” on April 25 and April 30 and doing the same jointly with Hector McLean on May 16. He was also charged with possession of cannabis. Jailed for three years and nine months.
  • Jacob Wyness, 18, of no fixed address, admitted supplying heroin and crack cocaine to “Amy” on May 23 and May 29, crack cocaine to “Rob” on June 13 and 20, and heroin and crack cocaine to “Steve” on April 23 jointly with Jason Stiggers. Jailed for 11 months, to be served consecutively to a 26 month sentence for possession with intent to supply.
  • Ras Nicholson, 34, of no fixed address, admitted supplying heroin and crack cocaine to “Steve” on April 24, May 2 and May 7. Adjourned to February 27.

Swindon Advertiser:

Swindon Crown Court

  • Lee Willett, 36, formerly of Buttermere, Liden, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to supplying heroin and crack cocaine to “Steve” on August 14. Deferred until May 5.
  • Bradley Dobson, 20, of Hoffman Close, Bracknell, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to supplying crack cocaine and heroin to “Yasmin” on September 4 and 5. He was in possession of cannabis on October 24. Adjourned on compassionate grounds to a date to be fixed.
  • Callum Fenton, 22, of Thistley Court, Lewisham, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to supplying crack cocaine and heroin to “Yasmin” on August 29. Adjourned to a date to be fixed.