Medway: 'Telephone hotline' drug dealer jailed
Ashley Morris distanced himself from the crimes
A drug dealer who ran a telephone hotline for people to buy heroin and crack cocaine in Medway has been jailed.
Police worked out that Ashley Morris was in control of the mobile phone number nicknamed the Danny line.
He recruited a network of people to sell for him, so he could distance himself from the crimes.
The 35-year-old from Stoke Road in Allhallows was sentenced to seven years following a week-long trial at Winchester Crown Court.
When police searched a property in Stirling Close, Rochester in March 2023 Morris was not there.
But officers did find £5,000 in cash, a large knife and a mobile phone believed to be linked to the drug dealing.
Duane Stevenson, 24, of Imperial Road, Gillingham, was arrested inside the property and later charged in connection with the drug dealing.
He admitted the charges and was given a suspended 20-month jail term at Maidstone Crown Court in November 2023.
As part of the investigation officers stopped a vehicle in Cuxton Road, Strood in March 2023.
Inside the vehicle was George Bradley who was arrested. Officers also found the mobile phone linked to the drugs line.
Bradley, 30, of Thatcher’s Lane, Cliffe, was later charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and one count of being concerned in the supply of heroin.
He admitted the charges and was jailed for two years and six months at Maidstone Crown Court in April.
Officers continued to try to locate Morris, who was finally arrested at a property in Maidstone in September 2023.
Detective Constable Michael Nolan from Kent Police, said: "Morris was responsible for running the ‘Danny’ line which supplied class A drugs to vulnerable people within the Medway towns.
"We were able to carry out a thorough investigation and ensure that he faced the consequences of being involved."