Posted: 4:11 PM, November 3, 2022
A man became involved in running a county drug network supplying drug addicts to Norwich just days after being released from prison, a court heard.
Tom Hayes began ‘holding and running’ the ‘Scouse Macca’ route, bringing heroin and cocaine into the city from north-west England.
Norwich Crown Court heard the 23-year-old from Merseyside took over the county line in December 2020, eight days after his release from a 21-month prison sentence imposed for drug supply offences.
Daniel Higgins, prosecuting, said Hayes operated the line from December 2020 to March 2021, during which time 11,603 mass messages were sent to drug addicts in Norwich.
He said: “The defendant owned and operated the drug line from the North West, sending messages to drug addicts in Norwich.”
Hayes, from Huyton, appeared in court on Thursday (November 3) after previously admitting two charges of being concerned in the supply of Class A controlled drugs.
Mr Higgins said Hayes “played an important role” in the operation.
James Lackovic, mitigating, said Hayes felt he had “no choice” but to join the operation just days after being freed from a previous drugs sentence.
He said Hayes, despite the address change, received knocks on his front door from others who said his debt had increased.
Mr Lackovic said the defendant had a “genuine fear” of those involved in organized crime in the North West and had “little choice” but to “re-enter a deal”.
But he said Hayes deserves respect for his plea.
Mr Lachkovic said he was brought on as an operator but not as a line controller, he was aware of the scale of the operation.
But he added that Hayes had “no influence” on those above him in the chain and carried out his duties under management.
Jailing Hayes for a total of three years and three months, Recorder Sarah Fraser Butlin said the defendant had played a “significant role” in the plot.
Recorder Fraser Butlin concluded that the offenses were “so serious” that only immediate detention could be justified.
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