A DRUGS kingpin and his gang, including a getaway driver who ran over a police officer in Worcester during a botched escape attempt, have been jailed for more than 27 years.

The gang ran a so-called 'county lines' conspiracy, trafficking heroin and crack cocaine into Worcester from Birmingham.

All four defendants were jailed at Hereford Crown Court on Wednesday following dramatic arrests as part of Operation Blade, an initiative to sever the supply lines of class A drugs between major, metropolitan cities like Birmingham and smaller cities like Worcester.

'Kingpin' Asgar Khalfe, aged 33, of Townley Gardens, Aston, Birmingham, his 'trusted lieutenant' Terry Melsom, aged 22, of no fixed abode and Melsom's driver, Christopher Franklin, 35, of Barbourne Road, Worcester, all admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine between January 1 and October 16 last year.

Another conspirator, Worcester taxi driver Shakur Hussain, aged 38, of Compton Road, Worcester, denied the conspiracy and possession of criminal property.

But he was found guilty by majority verdict after trial, the first trial having collapsed because of a suspected attempt to interfere with a juror by the defendant's brother, the court heard.

Franklin further admitted section 20 grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving.

Khalfe further admitted possession of criminal property and production of crack cocaine.

Khalfe was described by Steven Bailey, prosecuting, as 'the kingpin' and a 'financial ghost' who used street dealers and trusted lieutenants to remain under the radar while organising the trafficking of heroin and crack cocaine into Worcester, putting out adverts to users.

His chauffeur, Hussain, booked City Nites apartments in Arena View, Edward Street, Birmingham under his own name, later used by Khalfe as a crack cocaine factory.

Franklin was described as a known drug addict who was working as a driver for Melsom to fund his habit. When arrested Franklin offered to testify against his co-conspirators.

The conspiracy was foiled in dramatic fashion when police officers swooped on two cars in Worcester on October 16 last year. Police attempted to stop a Vauxhall Zafira driven by Franklin with Melsom in the passenger seat in Shrubbery Avenue.

Mr Bailey described how DC Simon Lloyd, wearing plain clothes, got out of his car and held out his badge.

But Franklin drove over his foot, fracturing the officer's right leg and damaging ligaments which later required reconstructive surgery. The injuries have caused lasting nerve damage and ongoing pain.

The officer has been able to return to work despite having been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and was present at court, supported by his family, to watch the defendants jailed.

After the incident Franklin drove off in a dangerous manner, causing oncoming vehicles to swerve, drove 'blind' through a one way street and turned at such speed that one of the wheels left the ground.

The car was stopped at the Pitchcroft car park and police secured the keys to Franklin's Worcester bedsit, suspected to be a 'hub' for local dealers, where they found £470 in cash and traces of heroin.

On the same day police stopped Hussain's taxi in Loves Grove, next to Worcester Police Station. Inside the Mercedes they found Khalfe and £1,890 of criminal cash.

On the morning of his arrest Khalfe's phone received calls from 25 users who were trying to get drugs.

Mr Bailey said during the course of the 'sophisticated' conspiracy Khalfe had 20 separate unregistered mobile phones or SIM cards, changing them regularly when his street dealers were arrested so he could stay 'one step ahead of the police' and avoid detection.

Khalfe already had 27 drugs offences on his record, including three drug trafficking convictions and has spent a third of his life in prison. He was jailed for two and a half years in 2004 for possession of heroin with intent to supply, for eight years in October 2007 for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and for four and a half years in November 2013 for possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply. He was also on licence at the time he committed this latest drugs conspiracy, considered along with his previous convictions to be aggravating features.

Mr Bailey said of Khalfe: "He's the kingpin. This is a business and a profitable one."

He told the judge it was difficult to quantify the amount of drugs and cash in the conspiracy but said it was likely to involve between 25 and 50 deals per day over a period of 280 days which would mean 'many thousands of deals'. He said one of the street dealers linked to the conspiracy, Joshua Mills, was earning £1,000 a week in Worcester, twice what his father earned.

Gerard Cullen, for Khalfe, conceded his client had 'an unenviable record' but suggested that his regular journeys from Birmingham to Worcester showed he was not the 'kingpin'.

He added: "If he was such a ghost, so far up the ladder, he would not dirty his hands by operating the dealer line himself. There are people further up the chain than him."

He also said Khalfe had been an addict himself and had spent a third of his life behind bars.

Sophie Murray, for Hussain, said her client had a 'virtually unblemished record' and had worked as a taxi driver in Worcester for 15 years.

Miss Murray said: "He was someone who was naive, utilised and duped into his position under the influence of a much more sophisticated criminal who wanted to stay off radar. His good nature was abused in this regard."

Richard Hull, for Franklin, said: "Your Honour will have read of the remorse he feels. He says he wants to change his ways."

Mr Hull said Franklin lost his job as a plasterer when his employers found out about his previous convictions and he fell back into drug use.

Puneet Grewal, for Melsom, said her client got into drug dealing to pay off a court fine of £4,800, had no family, his dad having died when he was 11 and his mother when he was 15. Miss Grewal said he had been living in a hostel and 'sofa surfing'.

Judge Nicholas Cole said: "The supply of class A drugs causes misery and results in crime within the local community. It caused ill-health to those addicted to such drugs."

The judge jailed Khalfe for 12 years, Hussain for four years, Franklin for five and a half years and Melsom for six years and five months.

Franklin was also banned from driving for 45 months and must complete an extended driving retest if he wants to apply for his licence again.

concurrently in prison.

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Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Tony Garner said: "Franklin, Khalfe, Hussain, and Melsom set up a production line, moving drugs from a flat in Birmingham to the streets of Worcester. This wasn't low level street dealing, these are hardened drug dealers who made a substantial amount of money at the expense of some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.

"This was a typical county lines drugs setup; drugs were being prepared in a large city, in this case Birmingham, and shipped into a smaller city, Worcester. Their activities were brought to a halt thanks to some excellent proactive police work."I would like to pay tribute to all the officers involved in this investigation, especially the detective who was injured bravely attempting to arrest Franklin and Melsom. This demonstrates the dangers our officers face every day in their efforts to protect people from harm.

"County lines drugs supply is a growing problem in our community; hopefully, yesterday's sentencing will send out a strong message that we are being proactive in tackling the problem and serve as a warning to others who are thinking of dealing drugs in Worcester."

Operation Blade is an ongoing effort to tackle county lines drugs coming into Worcester from bigger cities. If you have any information about the supply of drugs in the town you can report it on 101.

Detective Inspector Garner added: "This is an ongoing operation and every piece of information we receive helps us to build up a better picture of the problems we face. The smallest piece of information could lead to us closing down a supply of drugs into the town and bring those responsible to justice."

People can also provide information anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.