A NORTHFIELD man has been sentenced for drug dealing and possession of an offensive weapon following the take-down of a county lines drug network in Evesham.
Joel Phillips, 19, of Bristol Road South, Northfield, was given a two-year sentence, suspended for 18 months for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.
Four other men who were running the Evesham county lines drug network were sentenced to more than 21 years combined.
The sentences come after a three-year investigation by police into a ‘deal line’ known as the Jay line.
The Jay line was the name of the telephone number, or ‘deal line’, used to run the organised drug-dealing network.
The police operation, codenamed Op Zeppelin, began with the arrest of drug runners Phillips and Jake Ford, 26, on April 4, 2020.
When officers raided a property linked to the drug dealing, Ford was found with £1,200 cash on him, and Phillips was found in possession of a meat clever and Class A drugs.
Further drugs were then recovered hidden within the address and enquiries linked both Ford and Phillips to the Jay Line.
Three other warrants were carried out across the West Midlands during the operation, including one in Kidderminster and one in Birmingham.
Overall, the investigation recovered more than £8,000 in cash, almost 1kg of cannabis and £1,000 worth of Class A drugs.
Nathaniel Miles-Webster, 27, of Heathside Drive, Birmingham, received seven years and four months in prison for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs during the hearing at Worcester Crown Court on Friday 3 November.
Emmanuel Freeman-Douglas, 27, of Shannon Road, Birmingham, was sentenced to six years and seven months for being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, possession of criminal property, and possession of class B drugs.
Reece Young, 22, of Harvest Road, Rowley Regis, got three years and ten months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Jake Ford, 26, of Saffron House, Kings Norton got a three-year sentence for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property.
Detective Sergeant Luke Papps of South Worcestershire County Lines team said: “The conviction of these drug dealers marks the conclusion of a lengthy but successful investigation into the Jay Line which was dealing dangerous drugs into our communities here in South Worcestershire.
“Putting this gang behind bars removes another threat in our daily battle to rid the streets of this most impactful and harmful illegal activity as we continue to actively identify, investigate and prosecute all others attempting to do the same.”
Joel Phillips’ photograph has not been publicised.
