Two men sentenced after police dismantled major county lines drugs networks

The first of several men from Skipton arrested as part of a huge county lines drugs operation have been sentenced.

Samuel Webster, aged 30, was charged with supplying class-A drugs, namely cocaine, while Antony John Carroll, aged 56, was charged with supplying class-A drugs, namely heroin and crack cocaine.

Both men have been sentenced at Bradford Crown Court this week.

They were among 62 people arrested after a huge West Yorkshire Police-led operation in Keighley saw the dismantling of drug supply networks operating in the town and across the border in Skipton.  

North Yorkshire Police worked closely with West Yorkshire Police as the forces executed 55 warrants in Keighley and six in Skipton earlier this year.

Webster was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison after he was caught trying to sell drugs in the town.

Carroll was given a two-year suspended prison sentence. A number of other defendants from North Yorkshire are due to appear in court at a later date.

Speaking after the hearing, a North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “These are the first of several offenders that have been sentenced as part of this major operation.

“It’s also a reminder that we are constantly working to take drugs off the streets. So if you have any information that could help us target drug dealing where you live, you can report it on our website, call us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously using their website or on 0800 555 111.”