Black Country teenager who acted as 'runner' for drugs operation which extended as far as Cambridge is sentenced
A Black Country teenager who helped run a drugs line operation which supplied class A substances to Cambridge as well as dealing closer to home in Walsall has been given a suspended sentence.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Brandon Thumber, aged 19, acted as a runner in the operation, called the 'Rocky Line' under direction of Mohammed Choudhury.
They and a driver were stopped by police twice in October 2023 and February 2024 in the Cambridge area.
On one of the occasions the driver was found with class A drugs hidden in her underwear and the second time on the A14 just outside the city she attempted to escape the police, crashing into a mini bus before police smashed the windows and seized the keys. She was dealt with on a dangerous driving charge.
Both times they were found with heroin and crack cocaine, and police also confiscated two telephones.
When records from the phone were examined they showed evidence of conversations between Thumber and Choudhury and that there were calls from the drugs line which had been diverted to them if the other wasn't available.
Closer to home, on November 14, 2024, police were called to Walsall town centre after reports of drug dealing activity and Thumber was observed taking part in exchanges with members of the public with Chowdhury present as well - they were chased by the police who quickly caught up with them.
Thumber was found to have 29 wraps of crack cocaine and 12 of heroin on him as well a two telephones, an ID in someone else's name and £20 in cash.
The court heard he played a 'lesser role' in the operation, acting mainly as a runner under the supervision of Choudhury.
Both initially pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, two of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and two of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. But they later changed their pleas to guilty after a trial at Wolverhampton had started. Choudhury has already been sentenced.
Judge Robert Talog Davies said he was taking into account the age of Thumber when he committed the crimes, the assessment that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and the fact he had already spent time in prison on remand.
For the six offences he was given two years in custody, suspended for two years, with all the penalties to run concurrent.
