Two members of a drug line operating in Stoke-on-Trent have been sentenced. 

Joshua Johnson, 22, of Longton, and Owen Hargreaves, 22, of Milton, were arrested when Staffordshire Police carried out warrants at their homes in June this year. 

Staffordshire Police said that more than £11,000 in cash was found collectively in both of their homes, along with the drug line phone inside Johnson's address. 

The phone that had been used to advertise the sale of drugs locally and to send bulk messages to a number of people.

When officers entered the address, Hargreaves also threw a sock out of window which was later recovered and found to have drugs wrapped inside. 

Johnson admitted being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine at an earlier hearing. 

He was sentenced to three-years-and-nine-months in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday 13 November. 

Hargreaves admitted possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A – cocaine and possessing a controlled drug of class A – heroin. 

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He was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. 

Sergeant Marc Proctor, from the city proactive team, said: "Drug lines like this are being targeted every single day across Staffordshire as we continue to take the fight to serious and organised criminals on our streets. 

"These lines often involve the criminal exploitation of vulnerable people and are designed to produce profit at the expense of those who are addicted to harmful substances."