County Lines Gang Leader Sentenced to 7 Years and 6 Months for Modern Day Slavery and Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs

Strategic Insights -

A County Lines gang leader, Lakan Illsley, was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison for his involvement in modern day slavery and conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Illsley, 28, was found to have coerced and exploited two 16-year-old boys, who were more than 130 miles from home, to transport drugs on behalf of his gang. The boys were spotted by British Transport Police officers at Blackpool station on December 13, 2023, and were found to be in possession of 50 wraps of cocaine, 39 wraps of heroin, a burner phone, and £300 in cash. Det Supt Craig Payne from BTP's County Lines Taskforce described Illsley as a "nasty individual" who targeted vulnerable young people to sell drugs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lakan Illsley, 28, was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison for his involvement in modern day slavery and conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
  • Illsley was found to have coerced and exploited two 16-year-old boys to transport drugs on behalf of his County Lines gang.
  • The boys were more than 130 miles from home when they were spotted by British Transport Police officers at Blackpool station on December 13, 2023.
  • The officers found the boys to be in possession of 50 wraps of cocaine, 39 wraps of heroin, a burner phone, and £300 in cash.
  • One of the boys was also carrying a knife.
  • Det Supt Craig Payne described Illsley as a "nasty individual" who targeted vulnerable young people to sell drugs.
  • Illsley's girlfriend's address was used to identify him, and he was arrested and charged with the respective crimes.
  • Illsley pleaded guilty to two counts of Modern Day Slavery and Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs on March 10.

Statistics:

  • 7 years and 6 months: Length of Illsley's prison sentence.
  • 2 years and 6 months: Length of Illsley's consecutive sentence for Conspiracy to Supply Crack Cocaine.
  • 50 wraps: Number of wraps of cocaine found on one of the boys.
  • 39 wraps: Number of wraps of heroin found on one of the boys.
  • 310: Amount of cash found on one of the boys.
  • 2: Number of boys exploited by Illsley.

Sources:

  • Blackpool Gazette:

www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/newsletter

  • Det Supt Craig Payne from BTP's County Lines Taskforce