Two drug dealers who played key roles in a County Lines network supplying crack cocaine and heroin across the Watford area have been jailed for a combined total of more than seven years.
Hertfordshire Constabulary’s County Lines Investigation Unit (CLIU) conducted a search warrant in November 2024, following a long-running investigation into a County Lines drug network, making two arrests. During the operation, class A drugs, cash, scales and mobile phones, used to run the drug line, were seized.
The pair appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Saturday, November 20, pleading guilty to being concerned in the supplying of class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) and were sentenced as follows:
- Janaya Bidewell, 30, of Grove Crescent, Croxley, sentenced to two counts of three years and nine months (to run concurrently)
- Marcus McDouall, 32, of Walton Drive, Harrow, sentenced to three years and eight months.
The judge commented when passing sentence on Bidewell: “Aggravating features are: items related to drugs were found in a child’s bedroom which was in use at the time; your daughter was 11; when you were arrested you tried to conceal the phone.”
Detective Sergeant Christopher Cowell, from the County Lines Investigation Unit, said: “Bidewell and McDouall were running a drug line between March 14, 2024, and November 25, 2024. The CLIU conducted a long-running investigation into the prominent and well-established drug line selling crack cocaine and heroin across the city. Bidewell played a leading role in the operation and attempted to hide the active line phone in her sock during her arrest.
“These sentences will have a significant effected on the drug supply and related crime in Watford. We continue to rely on the public to be our eyes and ears. If you have any information about drug dealing, please report it — together we can help keep Hertfordshire safe.”
You can report information about a crime online at herts.police.uk/report or speak to an operator in the Force Communications Room via the online web chat, which can be launched here: herts.police.uk/contact. You also call the non-emergency number 101. If a crime is in progress, call 999.
Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org
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