Two men from the Chell Heath area of Stoke-on-Trent have been jailed after admitting their roles in a cocaine supply line that operated across the city. The pair were sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 14 July after Staffordshire Police executed warrants at their homes last summer.
Sentences and immediate evidence seized
Byron Baines, aged 21, was handed a custodial term of two years and four months. Lennon Mutch, aged 20, received a sentence of two years and six months. Both men pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
Police searches at properties on the same street in Chell Heath on 21 August last year recovered items investigators say linked the defendants to the drugs line. Officers seized mobile phones used to run the operation and a total of £425 in cash — £310 recovered from one address and £115 from the other.
How the line operated and police response
The inquiry established that the operation relied on bulk text messages to advertise and coordinate drug sales. Investigators reported that messages had been sent to a large number of recipients across the city. When officers forced entry to one property, the phone believed to be central to the network was discarded from a window but later recovered and seized.
- Offence: Concern in the supply of cocaine
- Operation: Warrants carried out 21 August (year prior to sentencing)
- Evidence: Multiple phones and £425 in cash recovered
"We launched Operation Target in May 2023 and have been working hard to identify, disrupt and pursue criminals who plan, organise and commit serious criminal offences across the county, including drug supply, illegal firearms, knife crime, human trafficking and sexual exploitation."
Local impact and next steps
The sentences highlight the continuing effort by Staffordshire Police to identify and dismantle organised local drug distribution networks. For residents, the case underscores how modern supply methods — including mass text messaging — can bring wider criminal activity into ordinary neighbourhoods.
Police have reiterated channels for reporting concerns about drug dealing: callers can dial 101, use the force’s online Live Chat, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. The force framed the arrests as part of the broader Operation Target, launched in May 2023, which seeks to tackle a range of serious criminality across Staffordshire.
| Defendant | Age | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Byron Baines | 21 | 2 years 4 months |
| Lennon Mutch | 20 | 2 years 6 months |
While custodial sentences remove these individuals from the streets for the stated terms, community groups and councillors will be watching to see whether further enforcement and preventative work accompanies arrests — particularly in neighbourhoods where residents reported nuisance or supply activity. The police have signalled their intent to continue disrupting local organised crime as part of county-wide priorities.
