THE runner for a cocaine and cannabis trafficking operation has been jailed for two and a half years after he was caught with a drugs cutting agent, a machete and incriminating phone messages.

Jordan Difiori, 29, pleaded guilty today (Monday) to conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis between October 3, 2019, and August 19, 2021.

Bradford Crown Court heard he was now on recall to HMP Stocken until January 2024 serving a sentence for house burglary, robbery and drugs supplying.

Prosecutor Alisha Kaye said Difiori was working through the night as a runner for Mathew Hayton’s drugs supply ring. Hayton, 31, of Hall Lane, Shipley, was jailed for three years on Friday for the same conspiracy.

The court heard he was operating a lucrative ‘cottage industry’ after incurring huge drug debts and turning to dealing to pay them off.

Miss Kaye said Difiori was living in a caravan up a dirt track off Keighley Road, Bradford, when he was working for Hayton.

The police seized a bulking agent for Class A drugs from the caravan and a machete, described in court as ‘the weapon of choice for drug dealers.’

A phone taken from Difiori showed that he was working through the night delivering drugs for Hayton.

Miss Kaye said that although Hayton was ‘running the defendant’ there was no naivety here, Difiori was fully aware of what he was doing.

His barrister, Roy Headlam, said the offences were committed while his client was in the grip of a long-standing crack cocaine and heroin addiction.

As a ‘runner’ in the operation, he did not get to keep any of the money for himself. His reward was drugs to feed his own habit.

Difiori was now drug free on recall and wanted to leave prison rid of the addiction that he had battled for many years.

His time behind bars on recall would allow him to take educational courses and build a platform so he could find a job and lead a law-abiding life.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell KC, said Difiori was working under the control of Hayton.

Difiori had convictions for house burglary, robbery, and Class A drugs trafficking while in possession of a bladed article and he was currently serving a lengthy prison sentence.

He was jailed for 30 months that would not add to the time spent on recall.