Teens used younger children to deal drugs

Caden Stephens, from Gloucester, was jailed for 27 months

Three Gloucester teenagers have been sentenced after using younger children to deal Class A drugs.

Caden Stephens, 19, of Boulmer Avenue, Kingsway, and two 17-year-old boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, used children to conduct the drug deals, controlling their actions through burner phones.

All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

Stephens was jailed for 27 months on Thursday, while the other two defendants were sentenced to time in a young offenders' institute.

Gloucester Crown Court was told a 16-year-old was arrested in Gloucester last summer as police believed he was being forced to sell drugs by others.

Messages from the two 17-year-olds, directing him to deal drugs for them, were discovered on phones being carried by the younger teen, police said.

Cash and drugs

He had been sent to Stephens' home, where he collected the drugs and was told where to take them.

One of the 17-year-olds and Stephens were already on bail for drug supply offences, and were re-arrested.

The court was told that further drug phones, cash, drugs and drug paraphernalia were found at Stephens' home address.

He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, and conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine.

One of the 17-year-olds admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, and conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

The other 17-year-old pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

'A chaotic life'

In mitigation, the court was told that Stephens had made efforts to turn his life around.

The judge also took into account that one of the other two boys had experienced a chaotic life, including time in care, while the other had only been shown to be involved for a two-day period.

One of the teens was sentenced to 27 months in a young offenders' institute.

The other was sentenced to 20 months at a young offenders' institute.

Gloucestershire Police said it is also working to obtain Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders against all three due to the risk of them exploiting younger children.