Two county lines drugs dealers have been sentenced following a successful investigation into cuckooing at an address in Evesham by the South Worcestershire County Lines team.

Aesop McKay, 39 of Culford Drive, Birmingham, and Dominic Bogle, 35, of Kilby Avenue, Birmingham were convicted of conspiracy to supply class A drugs – heroin and crack cocaine – and sentenced to eight years and three years ten months in prison respectively.

McKay and Bogle were convicted at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday (April 10) following a trial where they were found guilty in August 2023 and remanded awaiting sentencing.

Simon Grinnell, 51, of Summerfields Gardens, Evesham had already pled guilty in 2019 to conspiracy to supply class A drugs – heroin and crack cocaine – at an earlier hearing. He was given a two-year community order including 12 months of drug treatment.

Officers executed a warrant at Summerfields Gardens, Evesham in June 2018 following information that occupants were in possession of class A drugs together with a firearm. 

Three men were found inside the property – known drugs user Simon Grinnell and two men from the West Midlands area - Dominic Bogle and Aesop McKay.

The circumstances of the arrest were consistent with the cuckooing method of drug supply being used. Cuckooing is where the home of a vulnerable person is taken over by criminals to use it to deal, store or take drugs.

Officers searched the property and found a foil package containing bulk quantities of crack and heroin with an estimated street value of £1,730 under a toilet bowl, street deals of heroin in a kitchen drawer and scales and blades for preparing drugs.

Many phones and sims were also seized, and a car was found which led police to McKay’s address where they found £1,220 in cash under a mattress.

Phone analysis showed they had been used for the supply of crack and heroin into Evesham on the Ghost Line - the name of the telephone number, or ‘deal line’, used to run the organised drug-dealing network.

Following a complex investigation, which was delayed by the Covid pandemic, expert analysts were used to secure the convictions following McKay and Bogle’s not guilty pleas.

Detective Constable Alex Pullen of South Worcestershire County Lines Team said: “We are pleased to secure the guilty verdicts and sentencing for McKay and Bogle following a complex but successful investigation by the team.

“Despite their efforts to frustrate criminal proceedings causing significant delays, the sentences imposed demonstrates our commitment to bring individuals involved with County Lines drug dealing to justice.

“Putting these criminals behind bars removes another threat to rid the streets of this most impactful and harmful illegal activity as we continue to actively identify, investigate and prosecute all others attempting to do the same.”

JI, Corporate Communications