Boy, 14, sold drugs to police

Heroin and crack cocaine were recovered

A jury at has heard how a 14-year-old boy was arrested after selling heroin and crack cocaine to undercover police officers in north Wales.

The teenager - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was arrested in connection with Operation Decade, which saw 26 people charged with drugs trafficking offences in Rhyl, and the surrounding areas.

Mold Crown Court heard that the schoolboy feared for his life when he agreed to deal in hard drugs for an evil drugs gang in Rhyl.

He was only 14 and he was put under such pressure that he had no alternative

Defence barrister Gwyn Price Rowlands

Mr Gwyn Price Rowlands, defending, said the boy had been held prisoner, cut, threatened with a knife, and beaten up by one of the gang.

The violence had even continued after his arrest, it was claimed.

He had been thrown through a plate glass window and an attempt had been made to run him over with a car.

The boy, who is from Liverpool, is alleged to have hidden heroin and crack cocaine in a chocolate Kinder egg.

He ended up selling the drugs to undercover police officers on five occasions, the court heard.

Police launched a dawn raid on a bouse in Rhyl

Prosecuting barrister Mr Andrew Thomas claimed that the boy - who denies eight charges of supplying Class A drugs - was a willing member of the gang.

The defence said that all the police evidence was accepted and the officers were to be congratulated for arresting 28 drug suspects as part of Operation Decade.

But Mr Rowlands said that his client had been forced into the situation and that the facts revealed a classic a case of duress.

"Effectively, someone has a defence if he was put under pressure to commit offences that he would not otherwise have done of his own free will," said Mr Rowlands.

'Too afraid'

"What the defence say is that he was beaten upon by an evil person and put under threat.

"He was in fear not just for his own personal safety, but for his life.

"He was only 14 and he was put under such pressure that he had no alternative."

The jury was told that the boy was too afraid to provide information about a man involved who was known to the police.

"He cannot give further details as he is in fear of his life, and the violence continued after his arrest because this man suspects that details may be given to the police," said Mr Rowlands.

The boy had been forced to stay in a flat in Rhyl with an older man, to go out with drivers to supply drugs when ordered to do so, and was threatened with knives if he refused.

When he tried to escape he was cut to the forearm with a knife and beaten up.

The case is continuing.