A drug dealer who targeted a vulnerable person in Gravesend and used their home as a base to sell Class A drugs has been jailed.

Ajani Alexander-Maye, of Huntley Avenue, Northfleet, took over the the vulnerable adult's house and used it to supply crack cocaine and heroin, also known as cuckooing.

Police were forced to break into the house in the Milton area of Gravesend in February 2019, and arrested Alexander-Maye after finding Class A drugs with a street value of up to £6,000.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday, December 19.

The investigating officer, DC Mark Donovan from North Kent CID, said:

"Cuckooing is a terrible offence where dealers prey on the most vulnerable in society in order to run drug operations.

"Thankfully Alexander-Maye’s despicable behaviour has now led to him being in custody and unable to harm others. Anyone who has concerns about an address that maybe being cuckooed or about someone who could be at risk, please contact the police."

On February 7, officers from the North Kent Community Safety Unit visited the address after receiving intel that the house had been taken over and was being used by drug dealers.

On arrival, the officers were refused entry to forced the door open and found Alexander-Maye in the kitchen.

At the house, police seized a large amount of crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis, cash and phones showing drug marketing texts.

A police investigation found evidence that Alexander-Maye had used a motorcycle to come and go from the cuckooed address as he used it as a drug dealing base.