A teenage “cuckoo” was caught with £1,200 worth of heroin after he moved into an addict’s flat to sell the drugs, a court heard.

Jaydn Charles travelled from south London to Maidstone in the county lines case, the town’s Crown Court was told.

The tenants of the Maidstone flat the 18-year-old and others occupied later told police: "These boys kept giving it (heroin) to us. They only came for a day but now we can't get rid of them."

Charles, of Oppenheim Road, Lewisham, was sentenced to 22 months youth custody after admitting possession with intent to supply.

Prosecutor John Fitzgerald said officers went to the second floor flat in Brunswick Street on August 22 last year and found people racing around inside and delaying answering the door.

Charles, then aged 17, and another youth looked out of place there and gave false names.

Charles’ DNA was found on 120 wraps of heroin seized from under the living room window ledge. He had two mobile phones and other drug equipment.

"It was a classic cuckooing case of crossing county lines to deal drugs to the Kent market," said Mr Fitzgerald.

Kerry Waitt, defending, said Charles was “the runner rather than the minder”.

The second teenager, who “provided the muscle”, he said, was still at large.

Judge Julian Smith said he accepted Charles played a limited role but custody was unavoidable.

"When you involve yourself in county line dealing of class A drugs in this quantity and these circumstances, it cannot be a suspended sentence," he added.