A county lines drug dealer broke down in tears after he was jailed for the "significant role" he played in supplying class A drugs to addicts in Norwich.
Joe Gil had been operating the phone as part of an enterprise supplying cocaine and heroin to city drug users over a three-month period between October 2023 and January 2024.
The 26-year-old burst into tears in the dock after he was sentenced to a total of 40 months in custody.
It was after Gil, formerly of Cherry Close, Norwich, previously admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin and possession of cannabis.
Norwich Crown Court heard Gil had been arrested in possession of phones which had sent out a "significant amount" of bulk messages advertising drugs for sale.
Martin Ivory, prosecuting, said the defendant was found in an Audi car in Grove Walk, Norwich, on January 3, 2024.
Gil ran off, but his attempts to flee were "unsuccessful" and he was apprehended.
On searching the car, a "man bag" was found and in it were a "number of mobile phones including the drugs line phone".
Heroin, cocaine and cash were also found, both in the car and following a search at Gil's address.
Mr Ivory said following analysis of the phones, Gil was found to have sent a series of "bulk texts" notifying customers that class A drugs were for sale.
He said more than 3,000 messages had been sent out to potential customers.
Mr Ivory said Gil played a "significant role" in the "street dealing".
Jailing Gil on Friday (October 9), Recorder Alexandra Robson said the defendant had played a "significant role" in the operation over a three-month period.
She said the supply of class A drugs causes a "blight on communities and their families".
Ed Renvoize, mitigating, said Gil, who has been diagnosed with ADHD, was an "immature young man involving himself in criminality" and "vulnerable to others".
But Mr Renvoize said Gil was now employed, has caring responsibilities for a child, and has "turned around his life" since the offences were committed.
He said he was not saying Gil did not deserve a custodial sentence but to impose immediate custody would set him back in the progress he had made.
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