A drug dealer who played a key role in a criminal gang has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for supplying Class A drugs.

Ta-Shan Thompson-Campbell has been identified by police as the holder of the ‘A1’ County Line, which was operating in Canterbury.

'County lines' is the name given to drug dealing in which organised criminal groups (OCGs) use phone lines to move and supply drugs, usually from cities into smaller towns and rural areas.

On February 12, officers stopped a car Thompson-Campbell was a passenger in, on the A2050 in Canterbury.

They recovered the mobile phone used to run the drugs line, as well as over £2,000 in cash.

During a search of the car, police found the ‘A1’ county line handset, which had been discarded under the driver’s seat with the battery removed.

Officers searched Thompson-Campbell and found more than £1,400 cash, while a further £900 was recovered from a white box in the driver’s door.

"Networks like this ruin lives up and down the country, preying on those who are vulnerable..."

Reviews of the handset and Thompson-Campbell’s own phone confirmed he had made 11 trips to Canterbury in a three-month period as part of his role within the criminal gang.

They also confirmed that bulk ‘marketing’ text messages from the county line handset had been sent when the phone was in the 24-year-old’s possession.

Thompson-Campbell, of Rotherhithe in south-east London, was charged with being concerned in dealing heroin and cocaine and possession of criminal property.

He pleaded guilty to all three charges and was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday.

Investigating officer DC Jake Griffiths said: "The investigation into the A1 organised group resulted in Thompson-Campbell being identified as playing a prominent role in supplying drugs around Canterbury.

"Networks like this ruin lives up and down the country, preying on those who are vulnerable, bringing other issues to a community such as anti-social behaviour.

"We will continue to disrupt and bring down those responsible for the groups and their criminal actions will never be tolerated."

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