THE leader of a drug-dealing operation used a homeless man as his driver and a vulnerable addict as a runner while he boasted to his dozens of customers: “I love a bargain”.

Reuben Jacobs, 32, travelled from his home in London to Colchester to operate a drugs line, sending out hundreds of messages advertising the sale of heroin and crack cocaine.

Ipswich Crown Court heard Jacobs was using the address of drug user Kelly Lucas, 31, in Barley Court, Wivenhoe.

Nicola May, prosecuting, said the property had been made the subject of a closure order in February after reports of drug dealing.

When police raided the home in May last year, they found Jacobs, Lucas and homeless man Brian Sales, 62, inside.

The court heard Sales was used as a delivery driver, with messages uncovered on a number of burner phones revealing how the operation was handled.

Police also seized more than £800 in cash from the property, as well as lists with references to restocking Class A drugs.

On one phone, a bulk advertising message promoting the sale of heroin and crack cocaine was sent out 92 times in a two minute period.

Police were able to identify Jacobs as ‘CS’, the figure running the operation.

Bulk marketing messages from ‘CS’ offered sales and boasted: “About all night, fast delivery” and “I love a bargain”.

The text messages also revealed ‘CS’ was willing to accept electrical goods or money in exchange for drugs. He also offered a delivery service.

Ms May said: “That’s where Brian Sales came in and Kelly Lucas, who the Crown say operated as a runner.”

Messages also revealed there may have been romantic involvement between Lucas and Jacobs, with one text from Lucas reading: “I know you don’t want me, I’m just a worker, but I want you so much more.”

Ms May said: “She was clearly someone operating lower down in the drugs chain, but it also shows perhaps the defendant was in a relationship with Kelly Lucas and exploited her to get her to do work for him.”

Jacobs, of Fordwych Road, London, was convicted of two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs after a trial.

He was also convicted of possessing cannabis.

Simon Connolly, mitigating, said Jacobs had already served a lengthy sentence in custody ahead of his sentence, enduring difficult conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said his client, a father-of-four, had matured in prison, attending Bible studies and working with the church facilities offered to prisoners.

“He’s looking for a new start and a positive start – this has been a salutary lesson for him," he said.

Jailing Jacobs for five years and three months, Recorder Jeremy Benson QC said: “You must understand that drug dealing not only causes misery to addicts, and their families and loved ones, but it also puts pressure on them to commit offences to pay for that addiction.”

“You were offering a service whereby you would take, quote, ‘cash or electrical goods’, therefore no doubt encouraging those individuals to commit crime.”

He added: “Mr Sales, who was basically your driver, was a gentleman just over 60 years of age, with no previous convictions, who was homeless. You took advantage of him.

“Also the premises at which you were found belonged to a lady called Kelly Lucas, who was also vulnerable and you used them in order to carry out the supply of drugs.”

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