A Lower Clapton man is among a gang who have been jailed for a £250,000 “county lines” drug dealing operation in Ipswich.

Kyron Nestor-Thelwell, 23, of Durrington Road, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was today locked up for six years and 10 months.

Jerome Daley, of Ilford, was found to be dealing heroin and crack cocaine in the town and Nestor-Thelwell would travel from London several times a week with more drugs and to collect cash from runners.

County lines is where local drug dealers are exploited to deliver drugs and in turn are paid in drugs to support their own habit.

Police believe the gang made the journey to Ipswich on at least 170 separate occasions, and made £273,000 in 12 months.

Det Supt Tim Champion of the Met’s gang unit Trident said: “County lines is a national challenge for police forces and our partner agencies.

“We are working hard with partners throughout the country to disrupt supply networks and safeguard vulnerable people affected by them.

“The impact drug supply has on communities is immense and our work to disrupt this criminality continues apace, using all the legislation available to us.”

After a three-week trial at Wood Green Crown Court, Daley, 30, was jailed for 11 years and six months. Kristian Pullen, 39, of Ipswich, was given a two-year sentence suspended for two years. Both denied two counts of conspiracy to deal class a drugs.

At an earlier hearing Paul Butters, 33, of Ipswich, admitted the same charges and was given a 15-month sentence suspended for two years.

Andy Mokonzele, 32, of High Wycombe, also pleaded guilty to the same charges and was jailed for six years and eight months.

Nestor-Thelwell received six years for the two drug charges and 10 months for activating a previous suspended sentence.

Dexter Lydon, 20, of Ipswich was acquitted of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.