A man has been jailed for 10 years after what police described as a 'UK first' county lines prosecution.
Kieran Gaughan, 26, was convicted as part of an investigation into the criminal exploitation of a 15-year-old boy and drug-dealing in the region.
Police executed warrants in Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire in February under Operation Pinecrest.
The teenager, who hasn't been identified, had been recruited and sent to deal drugs in Chorley, where he was housed at the address of a drug user, Merseyside Police said.
The user would deal drugs and return the cash to the teen, who would remain at the address with the drugs and the proceeds before handing the cash to those who had recruited him - one of whom was Gaughan.
Police said the vulnerable teenager was attacked after two men armed with a machete forced entry to a property in the St Helens area last November.
The men claimed the boy had returned from Chorley with a cash deficit, police added.
Gaughan, of no fixed abode, was arrested in March after attempting to evade capture following the execution of the warrants.
He was jailed on Thursday after being convicted of two counts of supplying a controlled drug, two counts of being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug, possessing a controlled drug, affray and having a bladed article.
Emily Norman, 20, of Festival Avenue, Orford, Warrington, appeared alongside Gaughan.
She was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, qnd ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work for being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs.
Police said the case was one of the first 'county lines' prosecutions to have been 'led by the experience of a victim' in the country.
Detective Sergeant Ruth Tickle said: "We know that ruthless drug dealers exploit young and vulnerable people in order to line their own pockets, often putting them in dangerous positions.
"In this case, the teenager they recruited was subjected to a shocking attack as a result of the situation they had put him in.
"These criminals do not respect the vulnerable people they exploit in pursuit of the illegal proceeds of crime, the communities they bring harm and violence to and they do not respect borders as they seek other areas to peddle their illicit drugs.
"Operation Pinecrest is one of the first county lines prosecutions to have been led by the experience of a victim in the country, and learning from it has formed part of guidance now shared by the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre.
"We will continue to work with other forces to trace those responsible and help those who may be exploited by these organised criminal gangs.
"Ultimately everyone should be warned that if you choose to get involved in crime, you risk facing the consequences of time in prison and a criminal record and the impact that can have for the rest of your life.
"But when we identify vulnerable, exploited people during our enquiries, we ensure they are treated with sensitivity and understanding, and are offered the appropriate support.
"Our primary target is those who seek to use them for their own selfish gain."
