[T]HREE men involved in a criminal “county lines” enterprise to supply class A drugs in South Cumbria have been locked up for a total of almost 13 years.
Carlisle Crown Court heard how a central “dealer phone” was used to co-ordinate dealing and send out group texts to addicts in the town between November 29 and December 22 last year.
Anthony Joseph Collins, 39, and 24-year-old Robert Gerard Skillen made regular – sometimes twice-daily – hire car trips from their native Merseyside to transport heroin and crack cocaine into Kendal, where the drugs would be peddled. Darren John Morgan, a 48-year-old Kendal long-standing addict, was also recruited. Under direction he performed a limited role on two separate dates, dealing on the street and topping up the hub phone.
But police brought the three men to book, and during an investigation amassed a wealth of damning phone cell site and automatic vehicle recognition evidence.
It led to Skillen, of Baker Street, Huyton, and Collins, of Scott Close, Kirkdale, both Liverpool, admitting they conspired to supply heroin and crack cocaine. Morgan, of Stricklandgate, admitted being concerned in the supply of the two illegal substances.
This investigation, known as ‘Operation Tribute’ was a proactive response by Cumbria Police to the County Lines method of Class A drug supply being used by offenders from larger cities.
A spokesperson from South Cumbria Drug Squad said: “Extensive enquires made it evident that Skillen had established himself in Kendal as prolific supplier of Class A drugs. He employed Collins and Morgan to help run the illegal enterprise.
As is common with County Lines activity a mobile phone known as ‘the line’ to be used to contact users to set up deals. With good work by officers we were able to show links between the line and the offenders.
“Today’s sentencing is further evidence of our commitment to tackling the County Lines drug supply model which is in use across the UK.
“The sentences handed out to these three men show that this type of criminality will not be tolerated in Cumbria. Anyone found to be involved in the supply of controlled drugs should be aware that we will use all available powers available to us to make sure those committing offences are brought to justice.”
They were sentenced this afternoon (FRI). Skillen and Collins were each jailed for four years, nine months, and 48-year-old Morgan for three years and two months.
Passing sentence, Judge Barbara Forrester said: “It was an organised, relatively sophisticated conspiracy to move a large amount of drugs into Cumbria, and you distributed them with what was thought to be the least risk to the people involved in that.”
