A TRAUMATISED woman has told how a violent drug pusher forced her to transport cocaine and heroin to the Sedgemoor area.

Miekel Lambert, 26, was today (Friday) jailed for eight years and eight months at Taunton Crown Court after admitting offences under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and coercive behaviour as part of county lines drug supply to the area.

He has also received a 30-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order, which has a condition banning him from entering Somerset.

It also places restrictions on his use of electronic devices and bans him from organising travel or booking accommodation for anyone else.

At the hearing, Judge Paul Cook described Lambert’s actions as “violent, sadistic and contemptuous” and said no trafficking victim should be “allowed to become invisible”.

The Judge awarded Crown Court commendations to Detective Constables Dave Allan and Harvey Ahern, who led the investigation.

Lambert’s activity came to light when his victim fled from his car after they stopped for fuel on the A38 on the evening of Sunday, February 23, and sought refuge at Almondsbury Sports and Social Club.

Concerned staff and customers in the club called the police to help the terrified woman and Lambert left the area.

He was arrested the following night at Sedgemoor Services on the M5.

Lambert was found to be part of a so-called 'county lines' operation supplying drugs in the Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge area.

The investigating officers were able to show that Lambert forced the woman to make up wraps of cocaine and heroin at addresses in Wolverhampton, Bristol and Bridgwater and hid them inside her body while he trafficked her by car or train.

The victim gave a statement saying: "The feeling of paranoia and being trapped throughout, knowing Miekel Lambert and the things that he did to me, have left me feeling isolated.

"They prevent me from living my life to the full and I don’t know when things will truly get back to normal for me, if they ever will.

"Miekel had the opportunity to stop this for me at any point – and end the trauma.

"Instead he prolonged this ordeal for as long as possible, simply to try and avoid justice.

"I am glad that this has been brought to an end but I feel this is only because Miekel would like to spare himself the ordeal."

DC Ahern, said: "Many people have contributed to this outcome which has seen a man prepared to use violence to force his partner into acting as a drug courier put behind bars.

"Most importantly I want to thank the victim for showing such tremendous courage, and also the members of the public who came to her aid at the critical moment.

"Somerset CID, colleagues across the force and the Crown Prosecution Service have worked tirelessly to build a case against which Miekel Lambert could present no defence.”

DC Allan said: "I hope this demonstrates our commitment to supporting people affected by domestic abuse as well as the help we can offer to vulnerable people who feel trapped and coerced into drug crime.

"We hope this woman can now rebuild the life which was shattered by Miekel Lambert’s crimes."

This is one of the first occasions in which a human trafficking conviction has been secured in a domestic abuse or county lines case in the Avon and Somerset policing area – and one of very few nationally.