A York drug dealer who fled to Thailand – only to return to set up another criminal operation in the city – has been jailed.
Kyle Nelson, 38, was a ringleader in a network that sold heroin, crack cocaine and other dangerous drugs in York.
Nelson had been serving a nine-year prison sentence for conspiracy to supply cocaine in 2022 and was moved to an open prison.
However, he escaped when he was on day release in 2024 and travelled to Scotland, Ireland then Thailand.
Nelson tapped into on a network of criminals and used forged passports to make his escape, under the fake names Carl Green and James Tetley.
Once in Thailand, he lived a life of luxury. He played on jet skis and bought himself expensive treats including a Rolex watch.
Nelson, originally from Manchester but who lived in Acomb, returned to the UK in 2025 and immediately began running class-A drugs.
He was pivotal in an organised crime network which he codenamed the ‘Banksy line’.
Using this line, he sent out information about drugs for sale and arranged deals.
But he didn’t known North Yorkshire Police’s Operation Sentry team – which tackles serious organised crime – was onto him.
They compiled evidence that showed he was the principal controller of the Banksy line.
When police stopped and searched a vehicle travelling from Wetherby to York in April 2025 they found a phone with Banksy line information on it.
That information proved critical, and yesterday Nelson was found guilty by a unanimous decision at York Crown Court of drug dealing.
He was sentenced to to an 11 years in jail.
‘Belongs behind bars’
After the hearing, PC Wayne Sharrocks of North Yorkshire Police said: “Kyle Nelson used his extensive criminal network to escape from a nine-year prison sentence for drug supply offences, flee the country, and live a life of luxury abroad.
“When he finally returned to the UK, he immediately continued selling crack cocaine and heroin on the streets of York using his own brand name ‘Banksy’.
“Operation Sentry works closely with intelligence analysts and other operational support units within North Yorkshire Police to tackle county drug lines operating.
“In this instance we were able to gather evidence, attribute it to Nelson and arrest him within weeks of becoming aware of the Banksy drugs line and put Nelson back behind bars, where he belongs.
“The 11-year sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence. We continue to work hard to stop county lines operating in North Yorkshire.”