Tenth member of County Lines drug gang jailed

The tenth member of a drug dealing gang that exploited young people has been jailed.

Kayden Marriott was part of a County Lines conspiracy that sold Class A drugs from Nottinghamshire to neighbouring counties.

The gang peddled bulk amounts of heroin and cocaine across Lincolnshire and Leicestershire between January 2022 and February 2023. 

Vulnerable people and children as young as 13 were used as ‘runners’ to transport drugs within and across county borders as part of the conspiracy.

Marriott was among those involved in the gang, who used a mobile phone line to advertise and facilitate the supply of drugs from their base in Nottinghamshire.

A major investigation led by Nottinghamshire Police’s County Lines team was able to bring down the group following a series of property raids across three counties. 

Detectives were able to prove the involvement of multiple offenders – including 22-year-old Marriott – after analysing extensive amounts of CCTV footage and mobile phone downloads.

Nine members of the gang were jailed for a combined 32 years during sentencing hearings back in April and June this year.

Marriott, of Swingate, Strelley, became the latest member of the County Lines gang to be sentenced when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday (27 August).

He was also in court to answer for a separate incident on 10 December 2020 where he was caught with drugs while trying to flee from the police.

After trying unsuccessfully to outrun officers in Nottingham on that occasion, Marriott was found with heroin, cocaine and large quantities of cash in his possession.

A search of a property in Eastwood then led to the discovery of more Class A drugs and evidence linking him to the sale of cannabis too.

He later pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply Class A drugs, possessing with intent to supply Class A drugs, being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs, and possessing criminal property. 

Marriott was sentenced to a total of five years and six months in prison for all his offending during yesterday’s hearing. 

PC Charlie Sylvester, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We are pleased to see a tenth member of this gang has now been sentenced for their involvement in this damaging drug dealing operation.

“This group peddled large quantities of Class A drugs across the region, while exploiting young and vulnerable people to do their bidding and take all the risks for them in the process.  

“Kayden Marriott knowingly played his part in all of this, while his involvement in a separate drugs supply case before that showed this was not an isolated foray into drug dealing.

“Many hours of detective work went into investigating this County Lines conspiracy, with a multitude of police teams working together to bring those involved to justice.

“This included our own proactive County Lines team and police colleagues from neighbouring forces in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.

“These types of criminal gangs cause devastating harm to communities, which is why so much work goes into stopping them and why we will continue to do all in our power to disrupt these types of conspiracies.”

Anyone who has information regarding drug dealing in their area, is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or dial 999 in an emergency

For more information please visit: https://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/advice/county-lines