WATCH: Mother of Midlands girl who was exploited to deal drugs speaks out

Francesca – whose real name is not being revealed – has spoken out about her 14-year-old daughter's ordeal when she was lured away and forced to sell crack cocaine and heroin in Lincoln.

She has now agreed to speak out anonymously, in order to protect her daughter's identity, in a bid to raise awareness among other parents, guardians and teachers and encourage them to report any concerns over their children's behaviour.

WATCH - Mother speaks out:

She said her daughter was used as a 'modern slave' and urged others to stand up for their children.

Her 14-year-old daughter was lured away from her home in Birmingham by Zakaria Mohammed – who was jailed for 14 years earlier this month, after a West Midlands Police investigation exposed how he had groomed teenagers and holed them up in a squalid flat to deal drugs on his behalf.

It was the first time in UK legal history that a police forced had secured trafficking convictions under the Modern Slavery Act for a County Lines drug dealer – the term used to described offenders who export drugs from big cities into more rural areas.

Francesca had reported her daughter missing on March 28 – only two days after CCTV footage at Birmingham New Street station caught 22-year-old Mohammed on camera buying her a train ticket to Lincoln.

WATCH footage from police here:

Police officers found her just over a week later on April 6, at a drugs den in Lincoln.

Francesca said: "My daughter is from a good, caring home – but she was lured away to deal drugs in squalid conditions.

"They were sleeping rough in a filthy flat and only allowed to leave when they were fulfilling a drug order.

"My daughter was used as a modern slave."

She added: "If your child's behaviour has changed, if they are staying out late, being secretive about who they are talking to or meeting, skipping school or becoming increasingly aggressive – it could just be their hormones, could be nothing, but equally it could be the signs that they are being exploited by drug dealers.

"What I would say to all parents is don't be afraid to tell the police or seek help from a charity or support group. We need to stand up for our children to keep them out of the hands of cruel people who want to exploit them for their financial gain."

Signs to watch out for in your children

Detective Superintendent Rich Agar, West Midlands Police's lead for County Lines, also urged parents to look out for tell-tale behavioural changes and offered reassurance that children who have genuinely been groomed into committing offences will be supported.

He said: "There are several signals to look out for that could indicate children are being lured into drugs exploitation – are they keeping different hours, being picked up or dropped off in a car, are they going missing, are they turning up in new clothes or with a new phone?

“If your child goes missing then report it to the police immediately; don’t leave it till the next day in the belief they are probably just staying at a friend’s house. It’s better to be safe than sorry so call the police.

“We are not looking to put any blame on children or parents of children who have been bullied or coerced into dealing drugs through false promises. Support is available through police and our partner agencies − that could be mentoring or help with education or training − so no parent should be worried about reporting any concerns."

West Midlands Police last week issued letters to several schools as part of the force's County Line awareness raising campaign.

If you suspect your child is being groomed or exploited, call West Midlands Police on 101.