Three jailed for dealing cannabis and cocaine

Joseph Hull (left), Hubert Jankowski (centre) and Michael Ward (right) were all jailed at York Crown Court

Three men have been jailed for dealing cocaine and cannabis in a North Yorkshire seaside town.

Joseph Hull, 23, Hubert Jankowski, 24, and Michael Ward, 21, had all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis resin.

The men had used mass text messaging to advertise their products for sale in Scarborough, according to North Yorkshire Police.

At York Crown Court on Tuesday, Hull was jailed for four years and Jankowski for three years and four months, while Ward was locked up for three years.

Jankowski, of Overdale Road, Eastfield, also pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon.

He was given a concurrent six-week sentence for possessing the knuckle-duster which he claimed was his mum's who had used it for mashing chicken.

'Bringing misery'

In June last year, detectives launched an investigation into a drugs supply line, known as the CJ Line, which advertised drugs for sale in the Scarborough area.

The three men were found to be working together to advertise, supply and sell cocaine and cannabis across the town.

They were all arrested at their home addresses in January this year, but Hull, of Burniston Road, Newby, and Ward, of Back Lane, Flixton, continued to deal after their arrests, police said.

All three were later charged and they pleaded guilty in June.

Det Con Alfie Thomlinson said: "These three men all thought they could make a lucrative living selling illegal drugs around Scarborough and Eastfield.

"Their criminal enterprise was bringing nothing but misery to the local communities.

"Despite their initial arrest, Ward and Hull audaciously continued to supply drugs showing total disregard for the law."

Det Con Thomlinson said the men's convictions sent a "clear and strong message" that anyone dealing drugs in Scarborough would be "found out and brought to justice".

"These three are now facing the consequences of their illegal activity, and I hope they use their time in prison to steer themselves away from crime and put their former criminal business mindset to a more legitimate use," he added.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.