A 23 year old Londoner who was caught peddling hard drugs in Cheltenham was jailed for four and half years.

George Browne, of Chatham Place, Hackney, pleaded guilty at Gloucester crown court to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine between 1st April and 31st May 2018.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply when the police raided his London address on 22nd November last year.

Prosecutor Janine Wood told Judge Ian Lawrie QC that Browne was part of a 'dangerous drug network' running a so called 'county line'.

Judge Lawrie said this type of organised criminal activity, where dealers from metropolitan areas target provincial cities and towns, taking over the existing drug supply often using extreme violence, was 'causing serious concern to the authorities'.

Imposing the jail term the judge said to Browne: "You are playing a part in a process which is far too prevalent and is the bane of the lives of people that live here."

Mrs Wood said: "This is a case involving a county line, operating from London, coming to Cheltenham, 'cuckooing' addresses and carrying knives."

The process of cuckooing is where vulnerable drug users are targeted and their premises are taken over by out of town dealers, who then turn the address into a base for their operations.

Mrs Wood described Browne as a 'trusted lieutenant' in a conspiracy to flood Cheltenham with hard drugs.

She said that a particular 'county line' phone had been tracked through 'cell site analysis' and 'call data', which was then matched to CCTV footage.

The phone was recorded moving between London and Cheltenham many times during the indictment period, she said, using the railway line.

CCTV footage was then obtained from Cheltenham Spa Station at times when the phone was being used in the area and Browne could be seen making and receiving calls on it.

As the investigation into that conspiracy progressed, Browne's address in London was raided in November.

Judge Lawrie noted Browne had 'turned it into a drug factory'.

Mrs Wood agreed saying police found drugs, scales, mobile phones, and 'spoons used to cook crack cocaine'.

£130 worth of cocaine was seized at the address along with £145 in cash.

The court heard that Browne had six previous convictions recorded against him for seven offences.

Defence lawyer, Sarah Jenkins representing Browne, said her client had been held responsible for drugs lost when he was arrested and convicted before.

"When one is caught and sentenced in that activity, one often comes out of prison with a debt to pay.

"It is difficult to escape their clutches," the lawyer said.

"It's his choice," the judge said.

Referring to the time of the conspiracy to supply in Cheltenham, she said: "He was recruited into this drug line, and despatched to Gloucestershire."

She turned to the drugs found at his London address in November saying: "He was buying on tick from a local dealer, and street dealing himself on a relatively low level in November.

"It was a relatively small operation."

Judge Lawrie said: "He has lent his services to a county lines operation, and whether in debt or not, he will pay a heavy price for that.

"He is close to the provenance in London."

The judge told Browne: "You were part and parcel of supply of class A from London to Gloucestershire. A county lines operation.

"You were seen at Cheltenham railway station on CCTV many times."

Referring to Browne's previous convictions and continued offending, the judge concluded telling him: "Lessons have not been learned by you."