Man jailed for four years for drug dealing

Ashley McNeil was behind a county lines drug network in Welwyn and Hatfield

A man who was involved in supplying drugs in a county has been jailed for four years.

Ashley McNeil, 37, of Birdcroft Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, was found with a large amount of cocaine, cannabis, £5,500 in cash and a stun gun when he was arrested in September.

After pleading guilty at St Albans Crown Court, McNeil was sentenced to four years in prison on 7 November for possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs.

He was also sentenced to six months in prison for possession of a stun gun and 12 months for possession of criminal property, with sentences to run concurrently.

Targeted operation

Det Ch Insp Alex Willcox, from the Hertfordshire Police's Serious and Organised Crime Command, said McNeil had been involved in supplying drugs across Welwyn Hatfield.

"We recovered a quarter of a kilo of cocaine, 50 bars of cannabis resin and a stun gun during his arrest," he said.

McNeil's sentence brings the total amount of jail time given to dealers who were investigated by Hertfordshire Police's County Lines Investigation Unit to 1,000 years, the force added.

County lines is the name given to describe drug dealing that involves criminal networks from urban areas expanding their activities into smaller towns and rural areas.

"County lines gangs pose a significant threat to our communities," said Det Ch Insp Willcox.

"We will continue to target those involved in drug dealing," he added.