A county lines drug dealer set up a new graft phone just one day after being questioned by police.
Lee Barnes, 23, of Cygnet House, St James Drive in Bootle was found in a home in Bootle by Merseyside Police on June 10, 2022 during an investigation into county lines drug dealing in the city. A court heard Barnes had taken over the home to operate a county line graft phone and exploit vulnerable people to carry out drug offences.
Officers also found a Surron e-Bike in the house, worth around £2,000, which was seized. Barnes was arrested on suspicion of drug offences and money laundering, but was released under investigation so police could obtain further evidence.
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Just one day later a new phone line came into operation within the same area contacting the same customer list as the previous phone. Following further investigations Barnes was arrested again on Thursday, August 4, and was later charged for two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A cocaine and heroin and possession of criminal property.
Barnes pleaded guilty to all the offences before he was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, June 5 to a total of 45 months for drug offences and received a nine-month concurrent sentence for possession of criminal property.
Detective Inspector Gary Stratton said: “Substantial evidence uncovered by our officers revealed Barnes was involved in a county lines drugs conspiracy which he could no longer deny. I hope this result sends out a message to those involved in such crimes that our officers will continue to target suspected criminals through the joint work between Operation Toxic and Operation Pelican which is Merseyside Police's initiative to infiltrate County Lines drug dealings.
“The exploitation of young vulnerable people to carry out crime is not a new phenomenon, but law enforcement is gaining a greater understanding of the signs to spot to target and sentence any criminals who are involved.”
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