DRUG dealers set up 'pop-up shops' in Worcester to ply their trade but ran the risk of being robbed by rivals says a city detective.

Detective constable Ian Wright of West Mercia Police shed light on how dealers operated in Worcester before their arrest when he appeared as a witness during a trial about a city 'turf war'.

Scott Fewtrell, 28, of Chedworth Drive, Warndon, fired a crossbow at the house of a rival in Worcester while Tommy Lee Jauncey, 23, previously of St George's Lane shot a blank firing pistol as child cowered in fear, a jury at Worcester Crown Court has been told.

Fewtrell, Jauncey and their driver Jake Cox, 28, of Mill Street, Worcester have admitted conspiracy to cause actual bodily harm to Luke Bridger following the incident at Carlisle Road, Ronkswood, Worcester on August 30, 2017.

However, the two men in the dock - Asgar Khalfe, 35, previously of Townley Gardens, Aston, Birmingham and Kane Ingram, 21, of Saddlers Walk, Worcester - deny they conspired to harm Mr Bridger.

Khalfe, Ingram, Jauncey and Jake Cox all admit conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin between January 1 and August 31, 2017.

DC Wright appeared as a witness and was cross-examined by Lynette McClement, for Ingram.

The officer accepted that the phone containing the dealer's list was 'gold dust' and the 'biggest asset' when it came to dealing drugs.

It was this phone that sent out the advertising 'broadcast' messages to users.

The messages in this conspiracy referred to 'fire dark', a reference to high quality heroin and 'fire oil', reference to high quality crack cocaine.

Khalfe had another mobile he used to contact his dealers where the SIM card was changed 20 times between January 11 and October 16, 2017, the date he was arrested.

Miss McClement said: "It's a bit like a spider's web. You have the spider in the middle. "

She said he (the person at the centre of the web) was the only person who had the contact details for the users.

The officer accepted that one way to take over a drugs operation was to steal the phone containing that database.

The street dealers in contrast used cheap 'dumb' phones or 'burner' phones that 'contained no gold dust' or a 'limited amount'.

He said for dealers there was 'the risk of being caught by police or being robbed by a rival dealer'.

The court had heard how Luke Bridger, the man whose house was attacked, tried to get Kane Ingram to work for him and talked of robbing Oz ) Khalfe.

The officer revealed some of the locations used by dealers in Worcester including the junction of Bridge Street and Dolday.

Miss McClement said: "They are being used for the exchange of money and drugs."

DC Wright said: "Like pop-up shops if you like."

He identified others areas used for dealing in the conspiracy including Worcester Racecourse and Cripplegate Park.

The jury previously heard how Luke Bridger talked in messages to Ingram about bringing back the A* drugs line to replace Khalfe's 'Ozzie line'.

Mr Bridger also messaged Ingram about 'robbing Khalfe' and about selling drugs on foot rather than using cars.

A dispute happened over Facebook Messenger between Mr Bridger and Ingram and insults were exchanged.

Ingram did not turn up to a meeting with Mr Bridger in Cripplegate Park and was angry at being stood up, the court heard.

Mr Bridger later wrote: "You're only cheeky on here. When I see you, you're going to run away. You will run like a nerd. Come and bring Ozzie you nerd."

Ingram replied using an insulting term for a homosexual to describe Mr Bridger and told him: "You need your boys to be a big man. Leave Ozzie out of it and you and I will have a go."

Mr Bridger threatened to come to Ingram's 'mum's yard' and they discussed having a fight by the fountains (South Quay) or Cripplegate Park where there were 'no cameras'.

The trial continues.