Man jailed after exploiting young people to move drugs across Suffolk
The 24 has been sentenced in one of the first cases of its kind in the county
A man has been jailed after he was found guilty of exploiting vulnerable young people in Suffolk by using them to move drugs across the county.
24 year old Peter Casey, from Sterling Close in London was handed a five year three month sentence at Ipswich Crown Court last week.
He admitted to arranging or facilitating the travel of an individual for exploitation under the Modern Slavery Act.
He is the first person in Suffolk to be handed a Slavery Trafficking Protection Order for exploiting vulnerable teenagers.
Casey first came to the attention of police in June 2022 after a missing teenager from Ipswich was found to be travelling in a car which was stopped on Scrivener Road.
Also in the car were a vulnerable 16 year old girl and two men, aged in their 20s and 50s.
An investigation subsequently found Casey had been arranging travel for several youngsters across the county and was forcing them to carry drugs.
Detective Inspector Thomas Pearse, of Suffolk Police, said: “Casey’s sentence represents the first conviction under the modern slavery act in Suffolk, following the introduction of the legislation in 2015.
"Officers are acutely aware that serious and organised criminals will look to avoid responsibility by using young and vulnerable people to carry out their illicit activities.
“On this occasion the young people found with the drugs were treated as victims, with the male responsible for co-ordinating their activity rightly convicted for his role.
"Protecting young and vulnerable people whilst simultaneously targeting criminals who exploit them, remains a priority across the entire constabulary.
“As well as a significant sentence, officers and colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service successfully sought a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order that will see Casey subjected to restrictions for twelve years on his release."
Both teenagers and the man in his 50s will face no further police action.