Jay Boys gang members jailed for dealing drugs from addicts' homes Published duration 22 December 2017

image copyright Essex Police image caption Clockwise from top left: Courtney Kirby-Diamond, Thomas Burnett, Tunji Owati, Shaheur Rahman, Baron Or, Steven Root, Troy Henderson-Ryan, Alfie Summers

Members of a drugs gang who "exploited the vulnerable" and sold heroin and crack cocaine from addicts' homes have been jailed, one of them for 11 years.

Eight men who were part of The Jay Boys were convicted following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

The jury heard how the gang ran a drugs line into Clacton and were caught after a series of violent crimes in the area.

Essex Police said the length of the jail terms handed out "show the reality of the gang lifestyle".

"Any money you make, or glamour that you think your lifestyle might have, will be short-lived and it's only a matter of time before you end up behind bars just like the Jay Boys," Ch Supt Paul Wells said.

"If you are intent on coming to Essex to deal drugs, make no mistake, you can expect to meet Operation Raptor."

image copyright Essex Police image caption Images taken from Shaheur Rahman's phone showed cash and phones used for dealing drugs

Operation Raptor is Essex Police's team which tackles drug and gang-related crime.

The gang's ring-leader, Courtney Kirby-Diamond, 26, of Queensbridge Road, Hackney, east London, was jailed for 11 years for two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Other sentences for the same offence were as follows:

Tunji Owati, 27, of Park View Road, Tottenham, north London - seven years;

Alfie Lawrence-Summers, 19, of Chatsworth Road, Hackney, east London - three years;

Baron Or, 27, of Broad Lane, Tottenham, north London - five years;

Troy Henderson-Ryan, 20, of Holland Road, Clacton - three years and three months;

Steven Root, 45, of Hadleigh Road, Clacton - two years and six months;

Tommy Burnett, 21, of Trinity Close, Leytonstone, east London - three years and six months;

Shaheur Rahman, 24, of Bentham Road, Hackney, east London - five years and ten months.