Scarborough cocaine dealer jailed

Kyle Blades-Wilkinson (pictured), of Long Walk, Scarborough, was jailed for four years and two months at York Crown Court on Wednesday (23 February 2022) after admitting supplying cocaine.

The 21-year-old committed the offences between October 2021 and February 2022 while he was still serving a 15-month sentence, suspended for two years, for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine in the town.

Despite this conviction in April last year, in which he was part of the ‘P-Line’ – a drug network operated by a County Lines gang involving Benjamin Freer, 25, Bradley Taylor, 21, and 20-year-old Alfie Bailey who were jailed for a total of 11 years - he continued to deal drugs.

On this occasion, Blades-Wilkinson was operating the ‘New Deal Line’ in Scarborough. This involved sending out messages using a specific mobile phone number advertising cocaine for sale to drug users in the town.

Detectives were monitoring the dealer line in January and discovered that it was Blades-Wilkinson who was sending out the broadcasts.

He was arrested and charged to court on 1 February 2022 where he pleaded guilty.

Officers found two ‘zombie’ knives, three sets of digital scales, dealer bags and four car registration plates inside his bedroom when they searched his home.

He told police he had been dealing to pay off a £1,000 debt to another drug supplier.

Judge Sean Morris, who gave Blades-Wilkinson a chance to stay out of jail following his previous conviction, said: “I’m quite satisfied that you picked up where the others had left off and you carried on your filthy trade, deliberately peddling Class A drugs. You had a distribution network; you were sending out block messages.”

Mr Morris said he was particularly troubled by the discovery of the serrated, machete-like ‘zombie’ knives, which were becoming increasingly common in the drug underworld.

Jailing Blades-Wilkinson for four years and two months, he told him: “You do have some problems. They don’t excuse your behaviour, nor explain it.”

Detective Constable Darrel Temple, of Scarborough and Ryedale CID, led the investigation into Blades-Wilkinson’s offending as part of his role in the Operation Expedite County Lines Team.

He said: “Drug dealers like Kyle Blades-Wilkinson are a scourge on society who prey on vulnerable people to make money at all costs.

“They don’t care who they harm as long they get their cash by any means necessary.

“Despite having every chance to turn his life around after receiving a suspended 15-month prison sentence in April last year for similar offences, he blatantly continued to deal cocaine and is now serving a significant term of imprisonment due to his criminal actions.

“We will continue to relentlessly target drug dealers who operate in our area and we will use and act on information provided to us from concerned residents and businesses.” 

Reporting information about drug-related crime

Anyone with any information about suspected drug-related crime are urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for the Operation Expedite County Lines Team.

Always dial 999 if an emergency response is required.

If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

 

Get help for drug and alcohol addiction

• North Yorkshire Rise – young people's specialist drug and alcohol service- freephone 08000 14 14 80 (option 2) – org.uk/service/nyrise/
• North Yorkshire Horizons - adult specialist drug and alcohol service - freephone 08000 14 14 80 – org.uk/
• Changing Lives - City of York Drug and Alcohol Service - 01904 464 680 - changing-lives.org.uk/services/drug-alcohol/york-drug-alcohol-support-services/
• NHS - uk/live-well/healthy-body/drug-addiction-getting-help/
• FRANK helpline and information - https://www.talktofrank.com/