County lines drug dealer to serve jail time

A drug dealer has been sent to prison after his original sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Teric Aroriode-Francis, now 25, participated in a county lines drug enterprise supplying cocaine, heroin and cannabis to people in the Ipswich area from a base in London. He was also convicted of perverting the course of justice after reporting his car stolen to the police on two occasions after he became aware it had been used to commit a drug related robbery.

On 14 July, Aroriode-Francis was sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment, suspended for 2 years at Preston Crown Court.

On 22 September the Court of Appeal found his original sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 3 years and 10 months’ immediate imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk MP, said:

“The original sentence failed to take account of the seriousness of these crimes and the devastating impact drugs have on lives and communities. I welcome the decision of the Court of Appeal to increase the sentence.”