THE head of a 'county lines' drugs operation who organised deals to sell heroin and cocaine using a mobile phone has been jailed for 11 years.

Prince Martin-Fullerton sent out text messages advertising he was ‘open and ready for business’.

Having personally brought the Class A drugs down from the West Midlands he then used runners to sell them on the streets of Weston-super-Mare to people who responded to his texts.

The 26-year-old also took orders for drugs via the same mobile phone.
Martin-Fullerton was initially arrested in January last year while in the process of buying cocaine destined for the South West yet he continued to run the operation even while on bail.

County lines, or ‘going country’ involves gangs using young people or vulnerable adults to carry and sell drugs across county boundaries using dedicated mobile phone hotlines.

He was convicted following a two-and-a-half week trial and Birmingham Crown Court where he was subsequently sentenced to 11 years behind bars.

Detective Constable Richard Grierson said: “Martin-Fullerton thought he was untouchable – he brazenly continued running his drugs operation even after being arrested and then resolutely denied being involved in court.

“The jury however saw right through his lies and he will now have to serve a considerable time in prison.

“His arrest was a result of a complex investigation conducted by both Avon and Somerset and the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit which has already led to dozens of criminals jailed for drug offences.

“We want to continue to make Avon and Somerset a hostile area for drug-dealers and we’re working extremely hard to identify and dismantle other drugs operations like this one.

“We need people to be our eyes and ears to help eradicate drug-dealing in our local communities. If you have information about people you believe are dealing drugs, please call us on 101 or contact us via our website.

“Or you can give the information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through their website www.crimestoppers-uk.org. They never ask for your name or trace your call.”