A LEADING member of a County Lines gang which trafficked almost £250,000 worth of drugs from Coventry onto the streets of tourist towns has been jailed.
The drug network included a man caught dealing while a young child was in the vehicle he was using.
The gang operated from January 2019 to July 2020, through the Covid-19 lockdown.
They are believed to have supplied at least 2.5kg of crack cocaine and heroin into Stratford-upon-Avon and Royal Leamington Spa.
Hundreds of marketing messages sent to users from their main drugs hotline were found.
One message said “Come and get ur tackle, still in stock. Best of both” while another read “active around the clock. Best in town.”
Jordan Hill, 33, was a senior player in the gang, managing deliveries, controlling others, carrying out violent acts, and taking orders.
Several vulnerable people were safeguarded during the case, including a 17-year-old girl and a one-year-old baby.
Hill admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday (January 26), he was sentenced to 12 years and six months jail.
Eight other gang members had previously been jailed for a combined total of 56 years.
Those in charge of the operation did it from a distance, making up to £1,500 per day, and controlled others through violence, threats and reputation.
The drug runners faced attacks with weapons, by rival gangs or were arrested on the street.
More than 1,000 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine were recovered by police and nearly £10,000 in cash.
During sentencing, His Honour Judge Cooke acknowledged Hill was regarded as playing a leading role at times.
He was a line manager to others, one in particular only 17 years of age.
The judge added this case involved the cuckooing of vulnerable people and noted that Hill used violence on occasion.
