TEENAGERS were given a stark reminder that drugs can ruin lives by a serving prisoner who was locked up for exploiting children and dealing drugs.

Year 10 pupils at Wheatley Park School were showed an explicit video from convict ‘Dee’ who was brutally honest about the ‘calculated’ ways he preyed on children to run his drug empire.

It is well-known that dealers use children as a disguise – paying them to move cash around or be drug runners – but until now, it wasn’t as obvious how ‘methodical’ and ‘business-like’ recruiting the young people was.

In the video, which has been shared in parts on the Thames Valley Police Facebook page, Dee talks about leaving children ‘traumatised’ by making them hide drugs in their body while the boss is sitting at home ‘relaxing, chilling’ knowing he won’t get caught. Dee, who’s real name and identity has been hidden, also warned children are groomed with loose change and ‘friendship’.

In the Thames Valley children as young as 12 have been targeted and used by gangs – with a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary last year exposing harrowing tales of teenagers groomed into drug crime in our county.

The 13 and 14-year-olds who were shown the video just days before the UK was put into lockdown and schools were closed said it was ‘eye opening’.

Jonathan and Luke, who would have otherwise been in an English class, said: “I like the fact that he said he made a lot of money from drug dealing but he would have made more from working hard and getting a normal job because now he is in prison.

“He also said that you will be caught, and the police will catch you.

“It just proves that life is easier if you don’t get into drug dealing and it’s a better route even if it seems like easy money.”

Engla, in the same class, said that she didn’t realise how easy it was for people to be recruited into that life and added: “It really hit me.”

Noor said: “It’s good for us to know the signs, he said it could happen to anybody because they [the people preying on the youngsters] know what to do and how to do it.”

In the video Dee says: “Plugging is when kids take food (drugs) even money sometimes and wrap it up in clingfilm and put it up their a*** just to avoid getting nicked. That itself is a traumatising feeling.”

He explained the methods of how they do it, adding: “It’s sort of a sexual activity.”

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He said: “So, you’re gonna be plugging all that food (drugs) for someone whilst he’s sitting at home, relaxing, chilling. That s*** happens.

“That’s where you’re going to expect as well as you’re not going to expect to be paid for months you gotta expect not even seeing your people (friends) for a whole few months now you’re just stuck in a cunch spot (dealing hotspot).

“You can’t eat the right food, you’re just eating bare (a lot) of takeaways. There’s a lot of things you’re putting yourself up for, that in itself is just traumatising.”

Russ Massie, who is the school’s officer for Thames Valley Police in Oxford, said the video was tough to watch for some people but was a reminder that any young person is vulnerable to the tactics – not just one demographic, age or social group.

He said: “It’s not one demographic being targeted more than others, children as young as seven are being targeted and in the Thames Valley as young as 12.

“Its one of our key priorities but not always obvious to us how and when.

“This video is very ground-breaking, it’s been an eye-opener to see how calculated they are and for him to be so open to admitting ruining kids lives.

“In Oxford city we do assembelies, host PHSE lessons and do engagement work with young people and schools.

“We are aware that it is difficult for police to engage with children, it’s a joint approach to find the best way and its really important that it’s not just my opinion it’s a joint effort.

“The way they work is very business-like and very methodical, there’s a calculated nature of it.

“You feel criminally invincible and the idea is we are there to protect them.”

Any young person who is at risk or is being exploited and feels like they are trapped is being urged to speak to anybody – a friend, teacher, sibling.

That person is then urged to speak to the police, or a body like a school where something will be done to safeguard them.

Anybody in immediate danger should call 999.