Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘Taken off the city’s streets’
Drug dealers who sold Class A drugs outside busy train stations in Canterbury and delivered heroin by mountain bike have been jailed.
The trio - who are not believed to have worked together - have been sentenced to a total of more than 12 years in prison, after they were caught by police who were carrying out a long-running investigation into drug dealing in the city. Carrie Short was observed by officers as she delivered heroin to a drug user in Tower Way, Canterbury, by bike on July 18 last year.
Daniel Kitchingham was later discovered to be dealing for the “Dexter” phone line, which advertised its drugs in group messages to users.
He was seen selling crack cocaine and heroin near Canterbury East station on Wednesday October 16, and in Popes Lane, Sturry, the following day. Jahzell Costley, who dealt on the “Rocky” phone line, was observed selling crack cocaine and heroin near Canterbury West station on November 21, and near Beverley Meadow on December 6.
All three of them have since admitted charges of supplying, or being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, and have been sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court this month.
Short, 39, of the city’s Craddock Road, was jailed for five years and seven months on June 1. Kitchingham, 39, was jailed for two years on June 3, while Costley, 36, was jailed for four years and six months on June 8. Both had no fixed address. Investigating officer, Det Con Chris Weatherstone, said: “Kent
Police is determined not to let drug dealers get a foothold in the county. The misery they sow all too often leads to further offending and has an impact on many more in the wider community. “I am pleased this investigation has seen a number of drug dealers taken off the streets of Canterbury for significant periods of time.”
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