Three teenagers sentenced for using young children to deal drugs in Gloucester
The group used children to conduct the drug deals.
Three teenagers have been sentenced for their part in using young children to deal Class A drugs for them in Gloucester.
19 year old Caden Stephens of Boulmer Avenue, Kingsway, and two 17-year-old boys from Gloucester, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court last Thursday.
The three teenagers had been convicted at an earlier hearing for several Class A drug supply offences including conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine relating to the exploitation of younger children.
The group had been using children to conduct the drug deals and used burner phones to control their actions.
Stephens was jailed for 27 months, while one of the teens was sentenced to serve 27 months in a young offenders' institute. The other 17 year old was sentenced to 20 months at a young offenders' institute, to run consecutively with a sentence which he is currently serving for an unrelated case.
Because of the concerns around the exploitation of younger children by these individuals, police say they are now working to obtain Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders against all three.
Detective Sergeant Sarah Griffiths said: "Young people who are being exploited rarely want to openly speak to the police as this may place them at further risk.
"Gloucestershire Constabulary will look to manage any information sensitively to safeguard those at risk, and to catch and convict those directing others for criminal gains.
"If you are being exploited, or know or believe someone is being exploited, please know that your safety is the most important thing.
"Engage with an adult you trust and share information with the police, Crimestoppers or other partner agencies who can look to support and share information on your behalf."