A young tennis star with dreams of competing at Wimbledon has been jailed for his part in a county lines drugs operation.
Nemiah Fletchman was one of three 19-year-olds from Manchester who 'cuckooed' a vulnerable man, using his home in Carlisle to supply Class A drugs.
A court was told Manchester Metropolitan University student Fletchman was once ranked in the top 10 tennis players in his age group in the country.
He was supported in court by his two brothers, one of his sisters and his mother.
Defending Fletchman, Paul Tweddle said the teenager's loved ones felt a mix of 'anguish and despair' at his offending.
"He is a foot soldier who has very much been exploited," he added.
"He knows what he has thrown away - all for a few hundred pounds."
Of Fletchman's criminal role, Mr Tweddle said: "He was there to collect the money and take the money back. That is because he is quite an imposing young man - 6ft 3in tall and extremely well built.
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"He was involved in a car accident about 18 months ago and did receive a head injury."
This, the court heard, had led to a 'change in personality', which meant he was more impulsive and prone to peer pressure.
"It was something he was tempted to do and is bitterly regretted," said Mr Tweddle.
"He has thrown away a university course, a potential career in sports administration, his good name and the family's good name."
Fletchman, of Albert Grove, Manchester, and two other teenagers - Akeem Fatinikun and Cade Steven Higson - invaded the home of a frail addict while they trafficked drugs to Cumbria.
Douglas Dallas Foster, 61, was in poor health. He had his keys taken off him when the three lads moved in.
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Police were alerted to suspicious activity at the address in the Harraby area of Carlisle.
Fatinkun - armed with two knives,and two mobile phones - Fletchman and Higson tried to escape when officers raided the property, but were caught.
Police found £9,000-worth of heroin and crack cocaine, along with weighing scales and packaging.
At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Beccy McGregor said: "Also within the flat were business cards that had a telephone number on.
"It is believed this was likely to be the number linked to the drugs line."
She added: "This is an offence of a cuckooing - a gang from Manchester bringing drugs into Carlisle. It is clearly street dealing."
In a text message exchange on March 17, Higson said: "In a trap (safe) house with two of my mates but the nitty (the addict) is in a different room, ha ha."
Fatinikun, Fletchman and Higson each admitted possession of crack cocaine and heroin with intent to supply.
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Young father Fatinikun, of Julius Street, Manchester, was a sole carer for his mother and had debts not linked to drugs, the court heard.
Dad-to-be Higson, of The Meadows, Prestwich, had been a cannabis user since the age of 10 and was in debt to dealers.
The three teenagers were each sentenced to three years in a young offender institution.
Foster, who admitted permitting premises to be used for supplying the illicit substances - and who had 133 previous offences to his name - was jailed for 12 months.
David Wales, defending, said Foster had received no payment or reward for his role.
"He was told 'this is what you will do, he agreed to do it'," Mr Wales told the court.
"He was, for all intents and purposes, moved out. The three people simply used the address as they saw fit and as they had been directed to do."
Passing sentence, Judge James Adkin said: "There needs to be an element of deterrence in passing sentences in cuckooing operations to ensure that those who want to risk coming from cities further south and attempting to flood the streets of Carlisle with class A drugs, should know that the sanctions should they be caught will be severe punishment."
Turning to Fletchman, who had his head bowed in the dock, Judge Adkin added: "Your sporting career is in ruins and your family must be distraught by virtue of your engagement in this offending."
Rebecca Mcgregor for the CPS said: “These young men targeted a vulnerable man who was addicted to drugs and manipulated him into making his home a safe house for them to run their drugs operation."
Detective Inspector Andrew Donnelly said the teenagers believed Cumbria was a 'soft target'.
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