A sub-lieutenant in a County Lines drug operation had previously served time for taking part in the London riots.

Damion Williams, 28, was sent to a young offender’s institution for violent disorder over his part in rioting in the capital in 2011.

Oxford Crown Court heard that period of incarceration – the one and only time he had been in custody – followed the tragic death of his father. Despite being the youngest of eight siblings, his dead’s death left him without a father figure in his life, his advocate said.

His ‘aimlessness’ prompted by his father's death continued until he met his current partner and the other of his two young children.

Williams became involved in the ‘Marlow’ drugs line last year, a London-based operation dealing drugs in the Buckinghamshire town.

The defendant’s role was as a stand-in lieutenant, the court heard. He had directed a number of runners, including people called ‘Kev’ and ‘Holly’, and travelled up from the capital to collect the cash. But he did not ‘re-up’ or re-supply the drugs line.

He was paid the equivalent of about £400 a month for his role in the operation, the court heard.

Sentencing him to five-and-a-half years’ imprisonment on Tuesday, Judge Michael Gledhill KC told Williams: “From July 2021 until May 2022, you were involved in a leading role in the Marlow County Line, which was bringing drugs from London to Oxfordshire [and Buckinghamshire], principally around Marlow.

“You were not the prime leading role person involved in this drug line, I fully accept that.

“You were not receiving large amounts of money for your role, but you were playing an important role in as much as you were operating two phones that we’ve been told about [and] you were directing runners John, Holly and Kev.”

He described Williams as an ‘intelligent’ man, who had penned an ‘eloquent’ letter to the court setting out his remorse and his desire to move on with his life.

It was a ‘tragedy’ for his mother and partner, who watched the sentencing hearing from the public gallery.

In mitigation, Williams was said to have been doing well in custody and had earned a well-regarded job in the prison.

“I applaud what you’ve been doing while in prison. I wish you well when you come out,” Judge Gledhill added.

Williams, of Mayville Road, Ilford, had been due to stand trial on the charges of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. However, he returned to court on Tuesday afternoon to plead guilty to the charges.

His advocate asked the judge to give the defendant full credit – or a third reduction in the sentence he would otherwise receive – as the legal advice he had received in the magistrates’ court was ‘erroneous and negligent’.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward