Ricole Douglas-Francis, 31, of Croydon Road in Anerley, south London, was jailed on Monday (July 20) as one of the line-holders for a county lines drug operation. Serially convicted drug dealer Creary, 33, of Arbrook Close in Orpington, was jailed for 12 years for masterminding the scheme. But, said Mr James, his client’s naivety about criminal activity was demonstrated by the fact that he used his personal phone to conduct business relating to the drugs line. On occasions, said the lawyer, messages showed the runners telling Douglas-Francis what to do, as opposed to the other way around. “When problems or difficulties arise, they are immediately passed on, rather than dealt with in any managerial function by Mr Douglas-Francis,” he argued.