A DRUG dealer who used threats of violence to force children to help him has been put behind bars.
It follows an investigation by police between 2019 and 2021 into the supply of Class A and Class B drugs in Tameside.
This included the ‘Sam N Marco’ – or ‘SNM’ drugs line – which was run by Arron Kenny.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard how the 24-year-old, of Ashton Old Road in Manchester, co-ordinated the drug supply, cultivation of cannabis and movement of drugs from place to place.
Kenny also used children to assist in supplying drugs, including holding the drugs, the drugs line mobile phone, and collecting the money.
He was originally arrested in 2021 before briefly disappearing, and was apprehended again in December that year.
Kenny was found living in an apartment in the city centre and was relying on a driver to take him out to deal drugs as he had two broken legs.
After a warrant was carried out, police seized ‘a large amount’ of Class A drugs and cash.
Kenny was sentenced on Monday (November 18) to 11 years in prison.
Police say they will continue to work to take drugs off the streets and prevent children from being coerced into illegal activities.
“Using violence or the fear of violence to get the vulnerable in our communities to deal their drugs is bad enough, but to use a child is just unforgivable,” said Sergeant Matthew Elliot, of GMP’s Child Criminal Exploitation Team in Tameside.
“As a force, we are committed to protecting the children in our town and we are hopeful that this result allows the victims to put the experience behind them and allows them to live as the children they are.
“This was a complex and challenging investigation with a lot of moving parts and I would like to thank members of both the Challenger and CCE teams who were committed to achieving justice in this matter.”