Five Sentenced After Police Uncover County Lines Drug Gang In Market Harborough

Five people have been sentenced for their part in the supply of Class A drugs in Market Harborough.

The crimes of Kyane Reiss Jones, Brown Mujinga, Giovani Patrocinio, Kyle Watkins and Colleen Pickering were uncovered by police in 2020.

Officers discovered a county line was operating in the town, with a house in Welland Park Road used as a base and to store supplies of cocaine and heroin.

During the seven-month investigation, detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit were able to prove Jones was running the county line – sending out text messages offering class A drugs for sale.

Any orders placed were then delivered by Mujinga and Patrocinio – who were being used by Jones as drug runners.

The pair were using the address on Welland Park Road, which was the home at the time of Watkins.

When officers searched the house, bags of cocaine and heroin, multiple mobile phones, cash and scales used to weigh out the drugs were found.

Pics: Leics Police

At Leicester Crown Court on Thursday (27 April), four of the group were sentenced for offences after pleading guilty at previous hearings earlier this year.

Brown Mujinga, 20, of Burnmoor Street, Leicester, pleaded guilty to two conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was sentenced to three years.

Giovani Patrocinio, 24, of Dunholme Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs and was sentenced to three years.

Kyle Watkins, 25, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to allowing his premises to be used and was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to undertake 80 hours of community service.

Colleen Pickering, 44, of Western Avenue, Market Harborough, also pleaded guilty to allowing her premises to be used and was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years. She was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.

The controller of the line, Kyane Reiss Jones, was sentenced in August 2022 to seven years and six months.

The 23-year-old of no fixed address previously pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

He also admitted the offence of conspiracy to handle stolen goods after officers discovered the six cars in his possession between September 2019 and August 2020 had been stolen from the West Midlands area.

Detective Sergeant Lindsay O’Nion from EMSOU said: “The five convicted ran a business-like operation and at the time were contributing to the sale of cocaine and heroin on the streets of Market Harborough.

“The evidence showing their involvement in this was overwhelming so I am pleased they have all pleaded guilty for their part and have been sentenced for their crimes.

“Leicestershire Police and specialist officers in EMSOU will continue our work to identify and prosecute those who supply drugs on our streets as we know the damage they can cause to our communities.”