'Trusted' market town cocaine courier jailed

Tony Joyce-Scott was part of a gang dealing drugs in Alnwick

A "trusted" cocaine courier who was part of a gang dealing drugs in a market town has been jailed for four years.

Tony Joyce-Scott, 25, delivered high purity cocaine and cannabis to undercover police agents at least 14 times in Alnwick in Northumberland, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The gang also used children to hand over drugs at spots around the town with buyers making orders through a dedicated phone line, the court heard.

Joyce-Scott admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cannabis. Other members of the gang are due to be sentenced at future dates.

Joyce-Scott, of Upper Barrasdale in Alnwick, was first arrested with several others during a police raid on a house on Vintners Court on 10 August 2023, prosecutor Jonathan Walker said.

He was released on bail but the following day he and an associate had another mobile phone line set up for buyers to order drugs, the court heard.

Messages were sent to more than 180 people advertising the drugs with deals arranged at locations around the town, Mr Walker said.

'Contact with gang leaders'

Undercover police who had cracked the gang's previous network were instantly on the hunt of the new line with test purchases swiftly arranged, the court heard.

Joyce-Scott unwittingly delivered cocaine to the police operatives 14 times over the following months and also worked with a 14-year-old boy and 18-year-old man on handovers, the court heard.

The cocaine was found to be in the "high range" with a purity of between 89 and 92%, Mr Walker said.

Joyce-Scott was arrested again when police raided a house on St Michael's Lane and found the mobile phone used to arrange the deals hidden inside a toilet roll, the court heard.

In mitigation, Andrew Walker said Joyce-Scott had been a "runner" rather than being one of those running the gang, adding it was inevitable he would have close contact with the gang leaders in a town of only 8,000 people.

Judge Gavin Doig said Joyce-Scott was a "trusted courier" who "offered advice" to younger members of the gang.

But he said there was no evidence he had made much money or "flaunted" a "luxurious lifestyle" as others in the gang did.