SWINDON CHILD GROOMER KYUM RAHAM JAILED FOR EXPLOITING TEENAGERS TO BECOME DRUG RUNNERS
A 'predator' who groomed and exploited three teenagers to recruit them as drug runners has been jailed.Kyum Raham, 23, formerly of Northern Road, Rodbourne Cheney, pleaded guilty to three counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another with a view to exploitation and being concerned in the supply of cocaine, heroin and cannabis.
An investigation by Wiltshire Police's Serious Organised Crime Unit established that Raham had been directing teenagers, all aged 16 and under, to conduct drug dealing activity on his behalf.
It found that the 23-year-old was exploiting the teenagers as runners by recruiting them through Snapchat and then grooming them by offering them cash.
He was subsequently charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, and then further charged with three counts of breaching section 2 of the Modern Slavery Act.
Appearing for sentencing at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday, January 22, Raham was jailed for five years and seven months.
He was also given a 10-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order (STPO), which aims to stop the receiver from committing modern slavery or human trafficking offences by imposing restrictions on their behaviour, such as restricting travel, contact with certain people, or possession of specific devices.
Detective Inspector Champion of the Serious Organised Crime Unit said: “This STPO is a significant achievement which recognises the risk that Raham poses, both while in prison and when he is released.
The order will require Raham to keep police immediately informed of any changes of addresses, provide his social media account details, register his mobile phones and prohibit any unsupervised contact with any person under the age of 18, including online.
He is a predator who exploited the victims for his own gain, tempting them with money and arranging their travel around Swindon to deal drugs on his behalf.
I’d like to commend the officers involved for their determination and diligent work in securing the STPO and for their investigation which has led to Raham being put behind bars.
In April 2022, Raham – then 19 – was jailed for two years and 10 months after running a drug line which supplied crack cocaine and heroin to Swindon from August 2020 to early 2021 and often used youths as runners to carry out drug deals.
