Two drug dealers who sent bulk text messages to people in a Kent town offering class A drugs for sale have been jailed.

Officers from the Kent Police county lines and gangs team realised drug users in Tunbridge Wells were regularly receiving the marketing messages from a specific phone, between March 2020 and January 2021.

An investigation identified the owner of the phone as Connor Martin, who regularly travelled from London to the county to sell drugs with the help of a local dealer, Henry Muggridge.

A search in February at an address in Carshalton used by Martin uncovered the phone used to send the messages, as well as two wraps of cocaine, a quantity of cutting agent, two machetes and £500 in cash.

On the same day, a search was carried out at Muggridge's flat in Tunbridge Wells and three sets of digital scales were seized.

Investigators also recovered two knives under a pillow and a sword at the side of his bed.

When the scales were analysed, two had cocaine residue on them and one had traces of heroin.

"Anyone else seeking to supply cocaine and heroin in Kent should be left in no doubt that they too will be brought to justice..."

Both Martin, of no fixed address, and Muggridge, of North Farm Road in Tunbridge Wells, were arrested while the search warrants were being executed and they were later charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin between March 2020 and January this year.

The pair both pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court, and yesterday 19-year-old Martin was sentenced to four years and six months' imprisonment and 32-year-old Muggridge was jailed for three years and four months.

Investigating officer PC Samantha Smith said: "These dealers used a phone known as the 'Dan line' to supply class A drugs over an extended period.

"Our enquiries tracked down the two criminals who thought they could remain anonymous while making a profit living off some of the most vulnerable in our community.

"They are now in prison and anyone else seeking to supply cocaine and heroin in Kent should be left in no doubt that they too will be brought to justice."

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