North Yorkshire Mum tells horror of young son targeted by county lines drug gangs
She wants other parents to know the signs of exploitation
A North Yorkshire Mum is trying to raise awareness of County Lines drug dealing after gangs targeted her teenage son.
She says no child is completely safe as criminals will prey on and exploit anyone. She says her autistic son was targeted when he was just 14 year old and brainwashed into selling drugs. She wants to stay anonymous as she is worried gangs will come after the family: "I have my son physically but I don't have him mentally. Once in a while I see a smile crack but it's not the same so he might be here as a person but he isn't here. So people say you have your son, but I don't have the son he was going to be. I have somebody they destroyed."
She is speaking out to try and raise awareness of the crime and warn other parents to be on alert.
"We're trying to move on but we are all terrified"
Her son eventually went to prison and is now back at home trying to rebuild his life. His Mum says the whole family have been traumatised: "I live scared everyday, I worry that someone will break into the house or my most fear is that the police are going to knock at my door and gangs have killed my son, or they've beaten him".
"Gangs will target anyone no matter your background"
She tells us that there is a misconception about who criminals will target to get them to sell drugs: "You can be from the most loving family and have nothing in your background. You can be from a middle class family or a poor family. Gangs don't care."
Signs your child might be involved in County Lines drug dealing
Repeatedly going missing from school or home and being found in other areas
Having money, new clothes or electronic devices and they can't explain how they paid for them
Getting high numbers of texts or phone calls, being secretive about who they're speaking to
Decline in school or work performance
Significant changes in emotional or physical well-being
North Yorkshire police say if you’re concerned about drug-related crime in your area or think someone may be a victim of drug exploitation, please call them on 101.
If it's an emergency, please call 999. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service 18000. Or text us on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergencySMS service.
READ MORE: County lines drug dealing a "fact of life"