Brighton man who manipulated girl into dealing drugs jailed

Giuseppe Carella, 26, formerly of Baker Street in Brighton, was sentenced to a total of six years in prison at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, June 10, after pleading guilty to facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation.

Officers from Brighton’s Community Investigation Team observed a 16-year-old girl, who was sought as a vulnerable missing person, drug dealing around St Mary’s Passage and Easter Road in Brighton in February last year.

Police followed her back to a hotel room in Upper Rock Gardens, where they found Carella and arrested him on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and trafficking a victim for exploitation under the Modern Slavery Act.

Cash and drugs found in Carella's possession

A search of the hotel room found 128 wraps of Class A drugs, over £1,600 in cash and items linked to the preparation of drugs, such as scales, cling film and several mobile phones.

Messages on the mobile phones revealed Carella as the operator of a county drugs line and revealed that the 16-year-old had been working for him.

The messages also showed a pattern of emotional manipulation from Carella toward his victim, who is currently in the care of health services.

One of the mobile phones lined with the county line

Carella was charged with three counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, two counts of possession of criminal property, possession of a knife, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of cannabis and facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation.

He pleaded guilty to all of the drug and weapon offences in March last year and was remanded in custody awaiting the outcome of the exploitation investigation.

Along with his six-year prison sentence, Carella was also given a ten-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order prohibiting him from owning a mobile phone, SIM card or computer unless registered with police and his service provider.

He must also notify the nearest police station of any change to his address within seven days of moving house.

Weighing scales used by Carella

Detective Constable Rachel Pigott said: “Not only did Giuseppe Carella manipulate and exploit a vulnerable girl to his own ends, he then tried to claim that he himself was a victim of modern slavery – an allegation that was investigated and disproved by Sussex Police.”

Detective Inspector Dee Wells, from Brighton and Hove’s Community Investigation Team, said: “I would like to thank all of the officers, staff and everybody involved in this long and complex investigation, which has safeguarded a vulnerable young person and taken a dangerous individual off the streets.

“The illegal drug trade goes hand in hand with exploitation and violence and we will continue to work around the clock to disrupt perpetrators, bring them to justice and safeguard their victims.”