Two county lines dealers who flooded Reading with “substantial quantities” of class A drugs and “bullied” vulnerable drug users have been jailed.

Pedro Moura and Haider Fernandes ran a drugs line called “LJ and Pablo” which ran drugs from London to the town, prosecutors said.

Police obtained warrants and raided the dealers’ homes on August 18 last year, a judge was told.

Nathan Palmer, prosecuting, told how 1.25kg of cocaine was among the drugs seized at Moura’s address.

Diamorphine and cannabis were also seized, along with burner phones and paraphernalia used to cut drugs. Moura was found with £3,875 in cash and Fernandes was found with £130.

“These are substantial quantities of class A drugs”, Mr Palmer explained, “with a total street value of £219,500.”

“There is evidence in this case of a degree of exploitation of vulnerable persons and also a degree of exercising control of others in drug related activity.

“A short video was shown of the defendants bullying, to an extent, a drug user.”

The court heard Fernandes, of Southern Row, London, and Moura, of Grange Grove, London, had both admitted dealing.

Fernandes, a father-of-one, had pleaded on the basis that he only got into drug dealing to pay off a debt he owed and that he was in personal danger at times while street dealing.

Moura, also a father, had been diagnosed with PTSD, depression and anxiety, the court heard.

Mr Recorder Alex Lock, sentencing, said: “Drugs, of the nature of heroin and crack cocaine, are a scourge of our society.

“The drugs themselves and the activities surrounding them lead to criminality, mental health problems and anti-social behaviour, not just for users but those who live around them.

“Your conduct contributes to the undermining of communities and severe damage to lives and wellbeing of those who take drugs and the community that they live in.”

The judge sentenced Fernandes to three years in prison for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Moura was jailed for four years and 10 months, as the court heard he had been in possession of a greater quantity of the class A drugs and had also been dealing cannabis.