"I'm waiting to be told my son’s dead"
How drug gangs are grooming children across Lincolnshire
Last updated 20th Oct 2021
It's feared children as young as seven are being used to carry drugs across Lincolnshire.
It comes as we investigate how much of a problem so-called County Lines gangs are in the area.
That's when dealers use young and vulnerable people to move Class A drugs from one area to another.
We've seen figures that show cases of children going missing, being trafficked, or getting caught up in gangs is on the increase.
They're all signs that County Lines is happening right here.
We've spoken to a mum whose son got involved when he was just 13-years-old.
"I'm literally waiting for that knock on the door to be told that your son’s dead, because nothing good will come of this."
"When your child is a good person, and he’s never even had a fight in his life, he’s never been in trouble with the police before, he’s just a normal boy, if he does end up in jail at the age of 17, how will he protect himself?"
She said it's tearing the family apart.
"Sometimes you literally rock yourself to sleep at night.
"You’ve got beautiful children and everything’s happy and then it’s like you’ve had a child killed, taken away and there’s nothing that you can do.
"It’s Christmas Eve and you’re just standing there, watching your son taking drugs through the window, in the hands of these people, it’s unbelievable."
She told us she's constantly fearing for his safety.
"Everything revolves around thinking, how does he feel?
"Does he want us? Does he need us? Is he sad? Is he empty? Has he actually got feelings after the drugs? Is he feeling anything? Because if he isn’t, he’s ill, and if he is feeling any emotions, missing us, who’s going to help him?"
She had this message for those who think it's ok to corrupt innocent children into lives of crime.
"Is it really worth the damage and destruction?
"They don’t care about the damage that they do to that child, otherwise they wouldn’t give them drugs and have them hooked straight away.
"They don’t care about the parents at home, they don’t care about their siblings.
"They’re destroying lives. They strip these young people of their dignity, they demoralise them, strip them of love, care, nourishment, normal family life.
"They strip them of everything, just to make money."
What if I'm worried about a young person?
- People should report any concerns to the police on 101.
- If on a train text British Transport Police on 61016.
- Dial 999 if there is an immediate risk to a child.
- Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously online or call their helpline on 0800 555111.