Risley prisoner ran drug supply lines from jail exploiting children

He is one of three ‘dangerous and callous’ defendants to be jailed today, Thursday, for ‘exploiting children to do their dirty work’.

Their downfall came as part of Project Medusa, the initiative to tackle county lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation across the country.

Officers from Merseyside Police began an investigation into James O’Keefe in November 2023.

Despite being in HM Prison Risley for previous offences, detectives established that the 23-year-old was controlling multiple drug lines operating in Cheshire, West Mercia and Scotland.

He was doing so all from his cell in the Warrington Road jail, with the investigation finding that he and two accomplices had been using vulnerable teenagers to do the risky and often dangerous work of running drugs to customers.

The children, aged around 16 at the time, were beaten up and threatened if they tried to get away from their abusers, and their ‘ruthless’ controllers threatened to smash up the homes of their relatives to keep them in line.

Ruby O’Keefe and Kerry Russell were assisting James O’Keefe by travelling around the country to facilitate drug supply and exploiting children to sell class A drugs on their behalf.

As a result of this investigation, officers uncovered four incidents of vulnerable children who had been subject to exploitation by the trio for the purpose of class A drug supply.

Working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, officers executed warrants at the home addresses of Ruby O’Keefe and Russell on May 2 this year.

At the same time, officers produced James O’Keefe from HMP Risley.

James O'Keefe was running drugs lines while an inmate at HMP Risley

Safeguarding measures were put in place for the young people involved, and through partnership working, they continue to receive bespoke support.

James O’Keefe, of no fixed address, was later charged with four counts of modern slavery offences, as well as conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely crack cocaine and heroin.

He was also convicted of being concerned in the supply of class B drugs and possession of a prohibited item without authority in prison.

Russell, aged 39 and of Titherington Way in Liverpool, and Ruby O’Keefe, aged 19 and of Colby Close in Liverpool, were also charged with and convicted of four counts of modern slavery offences and conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin, as well as Proceeds of Crime Act offences.

All three were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today, Thursday, with James O’Keefe jailed for 10-and-a-half years.

Russell was locked up for four years and four months, while Ruby O’Keefe was sentenced to eight months in jail, but suspended for 12 months.

The sentences were welcomed by DS Shaun McNee, who said: “Callous criminals will often trap young and vulnerable people with threats of violence and debt-bondage, forcing them to transport their drugs to other parts of the country.

“Through our investigation, we were able to prove that these three individuals were involved in the supply of class A drugs, and using vulnerable children as young as 16 to run these drugs for them across the country.

“Drug dealers often turn to those they can easily exploit to sell drugs on their behalf – with those most vulnerable taking all the risk.

“We are working hard to ensure that victims of county lines exploitation are protected from dangerous drug dealers like James O’Keefe, Ruby O’Keefe and Kerry Russell.

The trio were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court

“I hope their significant sentences act as a warning to those who exploit children to deal drugs in Merseyside and further afield that they will not go unpunished.”

District crown prosecutor Hannah Scott, of the CPS, added: “The Crown Prosecution Service’s case here was that these defendants conspired together to supply class A drugs across the country, and used children to do their dirty work for them.

“The children, aged around 16 at the time, were beaten up and threatened if they tried to get away from their abusers, and the defendants threatened to smash up the homes of their relatives too.

“The children had nowhere to turn, but the careful investigative work of Merseyside Police, working alongside the CPS, has got to the bottom of the vicious exploitation being carried out by these ruthless drug dealers.

“These dealers drag vulnerable children into their web of crime, but the children are victims rather than perpetrators, and this case has brought those truly responsible to justice.”

Anyone who has any information about county lines drug dealing in their area, or anyone who is concerned about someone who may be being exploited by these gangs, should report it to the police by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

There are several signs to look out for that may indicate a child is involved in county lines, including repeatedly going missing from school or home and being found in other areas.

Other signs could be having money, new clothes or electronic devices and them being unable to explain how they paid for them.

High numbers of texts or phone calls, being secretive about who they are speaking to, a decline in school or work performance and significant changes in emotional or physical wellbeing are other telltale signs.