A county lines gang supplied more than £300,000 worth of cocaine across Thetford using children’s paint-style pots, a court has heard.
Four members of the gang; Chris Overton, 34, Ashley Holloway, 32, Luke Jeffries, 29, and Chelsea Archer, 45 were sentenced to a combined total of over 20 years at Norwich Crown Court this week after admitting conspiracy to supply a class A drug.
The group, operating under the so-called Jimmy line, supplied more than 2.85kg of cocaine over an 18-month period from May 2023. The gang used a dedicated mobile phone line, which received more than 100 calls a day from drug users placing orders.
Operation Details
The court heard that Overton orchestrated deliveries but did not participate in day-to-day drop-offs. Holloway, described as Overton’s “right-hand man”, handled many of the hand-to-hand deliveries. Archer, Holloway’s partner and mother of seven, played a lesser role but had full knowledge of the operation, while Jeffries also assisted in managing orders and deliveries.
Prosecutor Oliver Haswell said the gang used a “marketing line” to advertise drugs to users, who would then place orders on a separate number. “Once calls were received, runners would be deployed to make deliveries,” he said. Between September 2023 and May 2024, the line received more than 28,500 calls.
Police seized 68 paint pots containing cocaine during the operation. Warrants executed across multiple addresses in Thetford on 24 October last year led to the arrests of Overton, Holloway, Jeffries, and Archer.
Additional Charges
Overton also admitted being involved in cannabis supply between May and October 2021. Police found £1,700 in cash at the time of his arrest, leading to a subsequent money laundering charge.
Sentencing
Judge Andrew Shaw said the four defendants were involved in “real and serious organised crime.” Sentences were as follows:
- Chris Overton – nine years and six months
- Ashley Holloway – six years
- Luke Jeffries – three years
- Chelsea Archer – two years and three months
Legal representatives described the defendants’ personal circumstances. Overton had expressed remorse, Holloway was in recovery from addiction, Jeffries was of previous good character and had a difficult childhood, and Archer had a cocaine addiction prior to involvement.
