Thornaby cocaine dealer offering 'pay later' system rumbled by 'drugs line phone'
A Teesside cocaine dealer who was "offering credit to people to pay later for their drugs" has been put behind bars.
A jury found Kyle Hamilton guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. A second man pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date, Cleveland Police confirmed.
The jury was told that an address in Thornaby was being used to supply drugs and that a mobile phone number had been identified which was being used as a drugs line. Text messages on the phone showed that it had the sole purpose of being used in arranging dealing cocaine, including information around prices and weights of the Class A drug.
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Following enquiries, the phone was tracked to two men and searches were carried out at two homes by detectives. At one address items including grip seal bags commonly used for street deals of controlled drugs were discovered, along with scales and a small amount of cannabis. Eight mobile phones were also recovered.
At Hamilton’s address, there were scales, grip seal bags and a small amount of cannabis seized. The phone being used as the drugs line was also recovered.
Officers arrested the men on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and they were later charged. Hamilton, 27, appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Monday, September 30 for sentencing. The Vulcan Way defendant was jailed for four and a half years.
Cleveland Police Drugs Unit Inspector Phil Morris said: “I am pleased that Hamilton is now behind bars. It is obvious from the evidence that those involved in supplying these drugs were doing so for substantial financial gain and were even offering credit to people to pay later for their drugs.
“We will act upon all information received in order to tackle the illegal supply of drugs in Cleveland, and ensure that those responsible are put before the courts and are brought to justice.”
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