Sheffield man who used children as drug runners jailed

A man who used children as runners for operations involving around £93,500 worth of drugs across Sheffield has been jailed for over six years. 

Paris Rose, 33, of Edenhall Road, Sheffield owned and controlled a lucrative Class A drug line using a lone phone number between 2015 and 2017, making large amounts of money whilst his runners carried out work on his behalf. 

Detective Inspector Matt Lavender, from Sheffield district, said: “Rose was running a sophisticated line and using a number of children as his drug runners to be able to run his enterprise.”

In January 2016, officers from South Yorkshire Police recovered 323 grams of Class A drugs, which saw a total of seven people arrested over a two-year dedicated police operation.

Officers also raided an address in Chesterfield in November 2017 as well as Rose’s home address, where cocaine hydrochloride and cannabis valued at around £42,000 were seized. 

Det Insp Lavender said: “Drugs can not only blight communities, but they can also lead to devastating consequences and those heading up such large-scale drugs enterprises are our number one target.

“Young and vulnerable members of the community are used to benefit people like Rose and I’m glad he’s been brought to justice.”

Rose was sentenced on Monday 17 October 2022 at Sheffield Crown Court after pleading guilty for possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A and B, producing controlled drug Class B, possessing a controlled drug of Class B and conspiracy to supply a Class A controlled drug.

Anyone who is concerned or has any information about drug dealing in their community can contact South Yorkshire Police by calling 101 or by reporting it on the online portal.