A ‘County Lines’ drug dealer will be locked up after an intensive police investigation discovered he sold Class A drugs for four days last summer.

The Operation Expedite team from North Yorkshire Police uncovered George Blair, 22, from Guisborough but with no fixed address, offering serious drugs for sale in Scarborough. 

Blair was caught after police identified that he was using county lines to deal, and descended upon him at a McDonald's in Scarborough. 

He was jailed for five years at York Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday, January 2) after being convicted at an earlier hearing.

The Police identified a "deal line" operating in Scarborough to sell heroin and crack cocaine for four days at the end of June 2023.

The Northern Echo: George Blair, 22

The line was identified as originating from the Middlesbrough area and the number used was attributed to Blair.

On June 28, Operation Expedite officers identified Blair and a 16-year-old boy getting off a bus on Westborough, Scarborough.

They tracked Blair and the youth to McDonald’s on Huntriss Row where they were apprehended.

The youth ran to the toilets and disposed of a package containing heroin and crack cocaine over the top of a toilet cubicle.

The cubicle was occupied at the time by a member of the public who the police say was "rudely interrupted whilst spending a penny or two".

The recovered package contained 53 individual wraps of crack cocaine and 40 wraps of heroin.

When the officers searched Blair, he was found to have the deal phone in his pocket. The youth, who is from Middlesbrough, remains under investigation.

Police Constable Jessie Landers, who led the investigation, said: “The Operation Expedite team were able to catch George Blair in the act and it is pleasing he has been handed a significant custodial sentence for these serious offences.

“We hope he now reflects on his criminal lifestyle and is willing to change his ways with support from the HM Prison Service and the Probation Service.

“As evidenced in this case, we’re listening, watching, waiting and ready to pounce on drug dealers like Blair who think they can operate freely in our area.

Most read: 

Get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device by subscribing to The Northern Echo here. 

“It is abundantly clear that it will lead you to one place, and one place only: prison.”

Reporting information about drug-related crime: Anyone with any information about suspected drug-related crime are urged to make a report via the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling 101, select option 4, and speak to the Force Control Room. Always dial 999 if an emergency response is required.

If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or make a report online at crimestoppers-uk.org.