Dealer ran 'Bam Bam' line in Stoke-on-Trent - now he's locked up

Dealer Adam Watkins ran the 'Bam Bam' drugs line in Stoke-on-Trent - and now he's been jailed. The 20-year-old sent out messages advertising cocaine and heroin for sale and was also involved in the supply of cannabis.

But police arrested Watkins at his then Fenton home and seized two phones - with one containing incriminating messages. A search of his home found large amounts of cannabis and cocaine as well as £1,900.

Now Watkins has been locked up for two-and-a-half years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

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Prosecutor Antony Longworth said: "He was found in possession of two phones, including a Nokia. That was identified as relating to a drugs line - the Bam Bam line. CCTV from The Fone Shop, in The Strand, Longton, showed him buying a top-up for the phone, paying £10 in cash. That phone sent out flare messages on April 11, 15 and 21, 2023. The messages were sent to large numbers of recipients. They included, 'Active from 10am, drops all day'. They were sent to 39 different phone numbers.

"There were further messages between April 10 and 16 and between April 18 and 24 including, 'I will do you 40w (crack cocaine) or 20b (heroin) for £45' or indicating when there was cocaine available and not heroin, and vice versa.

"The phone sent multiple messages to another man with postcodes, addresses and details of orders. The man was arrested on April 25 and found in possession of multiple deals of heroin and crack and £955. He was a runner for the Bam Bam line."

Police searched the defendant's home and recovered 885 grams of cannabis, a Rambo-style knife, 10 grams of cocaine, and £1,900.

Watkins, of Trentham Road, Blurton, pleaded guilty to two charges of being concerned in the supply of a class A drug between April 1 and May 19, 2023; possession of cocaine with intent to supply; possession of cannabis with intent to supply; and possession of criminal property.

Balbir Singh, mitigating, said Watkins spent six days in custody after his arrest and 355 days on an electronic curfew. Watkins has not re-offended since his arrest.

Mr Singh added: "The Bam Bam line was already running. He is your typical individual to have been targeted, drawn in, and they got him to do the dirty work. It is not the biggest line, 39 recipients."

Recorder Robert Smith ruled Watkins had to be jailed.

He said: "You were involved in the supply of two class A drugs and the supply of cannabis. Heroin and cocaine are highly addictive drugs that ruin lives. Communities are blighted. Families are left broken-hearted. Users turn to criminality to fund their habit. You knew full well what you were doing was wrong. I would be failing in my public duty if I did not send you to prison."

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