IT is two years ago this month when a ‘county lines’ drug ring was smashed by police, leading to a total of 20 years jail time.

A man and three women were imprisoned for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine as a result of the bust in Cranham Drive, Warndon. Police had to chase down all of the defendants at various points, after they either ran away from officers or missed court.

The prosecution was a success for West Mercia Police’s Operation Blade, which tackles drug- dealing gangs operating in Worcestershire.

Inspector Tony Garner , head of the operation at the time, said: “A drugs warrant was executed at the home of Sharon and Ebony Wild [in Cranham Drive].

“A quantity of Class A drugs [about 6 wraps] was seized from the property . A third woman, Donna Derrick, was also in the house at the time of the warrant, and was arrested. “Following the warrant, officers returned to the address where they saw Daniel Delahaye walking towards it. “He ran from officers and following a foot chase he was detained and searched.

“He was found to have £1,320 on him and attempted to throw away a mobile phone.”

Police found mobile phone evidence suggesting that Derrick and the Wilds were heavily involved in Delahaye’s operation.

The group were charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and the three women were released on bail. Derrick, aged 37, then missed her pre-trial plea hearing and officers launched a manhunt to find her . Detectives later caught her at an address in Tipton,in the West Midlands, and she was taken into custody.

Sharon, aged 54, and Ebony , 26, also failed to show up for the start of their trial in Hereford Crown Court on February 12. Police tracked down the pairwithina24hourdeadline and arrested Ebony in Kent

and Sharon in Worcester .

All four individuals then pleaded guilty and were subsequently handed lengthy prison sentences at Hereford Crown Court.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Alex Pullen, from Operation Blade’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team, said the case posed many challenges for officers, including the offenders’ attempts to evade justice.

He added: “I hope this sentencing highlights how seriously we take these offences and how determined we are to investigate those who bring illegal drugs into our communities.

“County line drug dealers coming from big cities do so because they think Worcester will be easy pickings,but they couldn’t be more wrong.

“We have a dedicated team of determined detectives working full-time to investigate offences, and so far over 50 people have been arrested under Operation Blade.

“We really want the local community to work with us by reporting any suspicious activity, even information that may seem insignificant could just be the final part of the jigsaw for us.”

One resident, who knew the Wilds, said he was pleased they had been handed hefty sentences.

“We see a lot of people pulling up and going up there into the flat,” he said.

“You do the crime you do the time. I think it’s good the cops are cracking down on it. Clean up the streets.”

The young man, who did not want to be named, said he suspected ‘county line’ gangs were operating in the area.

He said a ‘Scouser’ recently threatened his friend with a knife, near the Prince Of Wales pub, in Worcester’s Windermere Drive.

Sergeant Simon Hallam, of Warndon Safer Neighbourhood Team, said the crack down on the operation in Cranham Drive was an example of residents working with officers to report concerns.

Fortis Housing took the decision to evict the Wilds from their home in Cranham Drive.

Delahaye, of Witton Road, Birmingham, was jailed for seven years, while Sharon and Ebony received four and three years, respectively .

Derrick, who gave no fixed address to court but is believed to have also previously lived in Worcester , was imprisoned for six years.