A man who trafficked three teenagers and exploited them for drug dealing has been jailed and handed a long-term Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order.
Kyum Raham, 23, formerly of Northern Road in Rodbourne Cheney, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday (22 January) after admitting multiple offences linked to exploitation and drug supply.
Raham pleaded guilty to three counts of arranging or facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, as well as being concerned in the supply of cocaine, heroin and cannabis. He was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court imposed a 10-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order (STPO), designed to restrict Raham’s movements and behaviour to prevent further offences linked to modern slavery and human trafficking.
The investigation, led by Wiltshire Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, found that Raham had recruited and exploited three teenagers, all aged 16 and under, directing them to carry out drug dealing activities on his behalf.
Officers established that the victims were targeted through social media, including Snapchat, and groomed with promises of cash before being used as runners across Swindon.
The STPO places strict conditions on Raham, including requirements to keep police informed of any change of address, register his mobile phones, provide details of his social media accounts and avoid any unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18, including online.
Detective Inspector Champion, from the Serious Organised Crime Unit, said the order reflected the ongoing risk Raham poses.
He said the restrictions were vital both during Raham’s time in prison and after his release, adding that the order recognises the seriousness of the exploitation involved.
DI Champion described Raham as someone who preyed on vulnerable young people for his own benefit, arranging their movement around Swindon to carry out criminal activity on his behalf.
He praised the officers involved in the investigation for their persistence in securing both the convictions and the prevention order, and thanked the National County Lines Coordination Centre for its support in obtaining the STPO.
