Two sentenced after using vulnerable man's home as drug dealing base
The pair took over the property to use as a base for their drug dealing operation – also known as ‘cuckooing’
Two men have been sentenced for county lines drug offences in Southampton.
Terail Buchanan-McDonald, 20, from King Georges Avenue, Watford (pictured) received 40 months in prison and Ke-Juan Barrow, 19, from Gloucester Road, Reading, got a two-year sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work.
In September 2022, the pair befriended a vulnerable man who lived at an address in Kent Street, Southampton and moved into his home.
From here, the pair took over the property to use as a base for their drug dealing operation – also known as ‘cuckooing’ – and left human excrement on the floor.
The victim was threatened with violence to prevent him speaking to officers and he was never left alone in the address.
The pair left in October – but on the 7th of that month, they returned and Buchanan-McDonald assaulted the man, claiming he had ‘grassed’ on them to police.
He sustained significant bruises to his head and arms as a result.
We were called and detained both men soon afterwards, seizing £695 in cash from Buchanan-McDonald, a wrap of heroin from Barrow and several mobile phones.
These were examined and showed texts selling heroin and crack cocaine to drug users in Southampton.
Buchanan-McDonald pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine and common assault and Barrow pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine and possession of heroin.
At their sentencing at Southampton Crown Court on Monday (27 February), the wrap of drugs were also ordered to be destroyed.
Their arrests last year took place during County Lines Intensification Week, a nationally-organised campaign which sees forces across the country target county lines drug dealing through a week of action.
DC Metcalfe from Western Investigations was the officer in the case. She said: “County lines drug dealing not only harms those taking the drugs, but also the vulnerable people who are exploited by criminals such as in this case.
“Now they are behind bars, they cannot take over anyone else’s home to sell drugs in our city.
“Please continue to report information about suspected cuckooing to us so we can make sure no other residents of Southampton are exploited in this way.”