TWO COUNTY lines drugs dealers have been jailed after police carried out a successful investigation into cuckooing at an address in Evesham.
Following the probe by the South Worcestershire County Lines team, Aesop McKay, 39 of Culford Drive, Birmingham, and Dominic Bogle, 35, of Kilby Avenue, Birmingham were convicted of conspiracy to supply class A drugs – heroin and crack cocaine. They were sentenced to eight years and three years ten months in prison respectively.
McKay and Bogle were handed the sentences at Worcester Crown Court following a trial in August 2023 where they were found guilty and remanded.
Simon Grinnell, 51, of Summerfields Gardens, Evesham had already pled guilty in 2019 to conspiracy to supply class A drugs – heroin and crack cocaine – at an earlier hearing. He was given a two-year community order, including 12 months of drug treatment.
Police raid
Officers executed a warrant at Summerfields Gardens, Evesham in June 2018 following information the occupants were in possession of class A drugs together with a firearm.
Three men were found inside the property – known drugs user Grinnell and two men from the West Midlands area – Bogle and McKay.
The circumstances of the arrest were consistent with the cuckooing method of drug supply being used. Cuckooing is where the home of a vulnerable person is taken over by criminals to use it to deal, store or take drugs.
Officers searched the property and found a foil package under a toilet bowl containing bulk quantities of crack and heroin with an estimated street value of £1,730. Also found were street deals of heroin in a kitchen drawer and scales and blades for preparing drugs.
Many phones and sims were also seized and a car was found which led police to McKay’s address where they found £1,220 in cash under a mattress.
Phone analysis showed they had been used for the supply of crack and heroin into Evesham on the ‘Ghost Line’ – the name of the telephone number, or ‘deal line’, used to run the organised drug-dealing network.
Covid pandemic led to delays
Following a complex investigation, delayed by the Covid pandemic, expert analysts were used to secure the convictions following McKay and Bogle’s not guilty pleas.
Det Con Alex Pullen, of South Worcestershire County Lines Team, said officers were pleased to secure the guilty verdicts and sentencing for McKay and Bogle following a complex but successful investigation by the team.
“Despite their efforts to frustrate criminal proceedings causing significant delays, the sentences imposed demonstrates our commitment to bring individuals involved with county lines drug dealing to justice.
“Putting these criminals behind bars removes another threat 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.”
Following the convictions and sentences. police have urged anyone with information on drug-dealing or taking in their area to report it by calling officers on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
