County lines drug dealer behind bars

8 March 2019, 18:55 | Updated: 8 March 2019, 18:57

A county lines drug dealer who was caught red-handed in Peterborough with two "burner phones" has been jailed for four years.

Rytis Zerlauskas (pictured), of Brynmore, in Bretton, was caught with the Nokia phones after officers went to his home on 6 February.
 
Peterborough Crown Court heard one phone was used as a personal phone by the 19 year-old while the other was suspected to have been used to supply drugs.
 
This phone had evidence of drugs supply and one message, thought to have referenced class A drugs, was sent 92 times to multiple numbers.
 
Further messages received from others related to Zerlauskas 'being on', which is thought to relate to whether or not he was dealing drugs.
 
In police interview, Mr Zerlauskas answered 'no comment' to almost every question asked, but did confirm he had sold drugs before and had been to jail for similar offences.
 
At Peterborough Crown Court this week (Thursday 7th March), Mr Zerlauskas pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.
 
He was sentenced on the same day and was handed 36 months in a young offenders institution for the drug offences.
 
However, Zerlauskas was handed a further 12 months for breaching a suspended sentence given to him in December 2018.
 
He received a total sentence of four years.