THREE men have gone on trial over their alleged involvement in a county lines drug operation to supply Class A drugs between Manchester and Barrow.

Latham Burke, 49, Sheldon McDuffus, 26 and Stephen Payne, 54, are each facing two counts of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

The conspiracy is said to have taken place between September 1 2022 – January 5 2023 using a mobile phone called the ‘MK line’, jurors at Preston Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Paul Brookwell alleged McDuffus facilitated the supply of Class A drugs from Manchester; that Burke worked as a drug dealer in Barrow, and that Payne travelled from Barrow to Manchester on three occasions to pick up drugs and a youth being used to deal drugs.

Mr Brookwell alleged to the jury that there was phone data which proved McDuffus was in contact with another member of the conspiracy, (not involved in these criminal proceedings) relating to the arrangement of payment and selling of drugs.

One message allegedly made specific arrangements to putting a youth to work. The message read: ‘Said he’ll do 7, train his boy and put him to graft then his boy will do 7”.

Mr Brookwell said the message appeared McDuffus knew that the person was young and that they had agreed to work for seven days in selling drugs.

Another message from McDuffus to the youth allegedly read: ‘It’s a quid a week normally bro but cos u wanna go together it will be 1.1 each’. The Crown submitted this appeared to be an arrangement to pay wages of £1,100 each.

The court heard McDuffus’ home address on Stelfox Street, Eccles, Manchester was searched by police on January 5 2023 whereby they found cannabis being grown and harvested.

The defendant has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis but denies the conspiracy charges.

Mr Brookwell said Burke allegedly had text messages on his phone showing he was working as a dealer supplying Class A drugs.

He told two users ‘three of each will be 70 aswell mate’ and made arrangements as to where to meet, during which he contacted the MK line.

The prosecution submited this appears to refer to a street deal of crack cocaine and heroin.

Police later found a 6.32-gram lump of crack, two wraps of heroin and 18 wraps of crack cocaine plus £490 cash at Burke’s address on Raglan Court in Barrow.

Mr Brookwell alleged Payne, of Broad Close in Barrow, made trips to Manchester on November 7, November 26 and November 29.

He said the purpose of these trips was to stock up on drugs to be sold.

The trial continues.