A drug dealer has been jailed for running a cocaine and heroin supply line while his sidekick was given a suspended prison sentence.
Ryan Bennett-Morris, 27, was jailed by Judge David Rennie at Hove Crown Court for operating the KY line in Worthing and West Sussex.
Alexander Lockhart, 46, was spared prison but ordered to undergo nine months of drug rehabilitation treatment.
Bennett-Morris and Lockhart were arrested in Worthing when police raided two properties in the town on Wednesday 3 June.
Bennett-Morris tried to escape from one of the properties during the raids but he was caught while, at the address, police found wraps of class A drugs.
Judge Rennie was told that Lockhart, meanwhile, had acted as a runner for Bennett-Morris to enable him to run the drugs supply network.
Bennett-Morris, of Byron Avenue, Coulsdon, Croydon, admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine from August last year to June this year and to having heroin and cocaine with intent to supply.
Lockhart, of Tarring Road, Worthing, admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine.
The pair were sentenced at Hove on Tuesday 18 August. The judge jailed Bennett-Morris for three and a half years while Lockhart was given a three-year suspended prison sentence.
Lockhart was also ordered to complete nine months of drug rehabilitation treatment and attend 20 days of rehabilitation activity with the probation service over the coming year.
After the sentencing, Detective Inspector Antony Preston said: “This was a significant supply of cocaine and heroin into West Sussex.
“Our officers worked alongside partner agencies including the Metropolitan Police to ensure we gathered full evidence of Bennett-Morris and Lockhart’s involvement in the KY Line.
“We are determined to disrupt the supply of class A drugs, which cause so much harm in our communities, and to relentlessly pursue offenders so we are pleased both men have been sentenced.”
