FIFTEEN people have been handed jail terms totalling almost 90 years for involvement in a large scale class A drugs supply plot which saw a Merseyside crime gang target Cumbrian addicts.
Carlisle Crown Court heard how mobile phones were used to bombard scores of would-be customers with almost 10,000 “text bombs” advertising heroin and crack cocaine for sale.
Cumbria police officers who smashed the plot uncovered a “mammoth” volume of communication between a group of conspirators. In all, 16 men and women – 11 with Cumbria addresses – played various roles during a period of more than five months last year.
“The key organiser and key players came from the Liverpool area,” prosecutor Tim Evans said during a three-day sentencing hearing which concluded this morning (WED). “Once the drugs were in Cumbria they were distributed by Liverpool gang members assisted by a number of local Cumbrian residents.”
Those householders, he said, directly supplied drugs on behalf of the gang; stored them and allowed their addresses – some occupied by children – to be used as a drug-dealing safe house bases; or helped in other ways, such as handing over crucial contacts lists for addicts or buying mobile phone top-ups.
Speaking of the “county lines”-type enterprise, Mr Evans said it also involved a process known as “cuckooing” – those from outside the county coming into Carlisle and setting up temporary “nests” from which to establish a drug-dealing network.
Thirteen defendants – including 35-year-old plot general Roy Hickman, of Churchdown Road, Liverpool – later admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs. A further three were found guilty by jurors following a trial.
Lawyers who represented the conspirators and gave mitigation during this week’s court hearing spoke of how lives had been left in “ruins” as a result of their illicit involvement.
“The impact of this conspiracy has been far reaching,” said Judge Peter Davies as he passed sentence. He spoke of “community exploitation” which had caused “devastation, despair and a huge financial and social cost this county cannot afford”.
JAIL TERMS:
- Roy Hickman, 35, of Churchdown Road, Liverpool; 14 years, five months.
- Thomas Wright, 25, of Harefield Road, Liverpool; 10-and-a-half years.
- Christopher Westwell, 25, of Round Hey, Knowsley; nine years, nine months.
- Dylan Yates, 25, of Boode Croft, Liverpool; 12-and-a-half years.
- James Bailey, 20, of Birkrig, Skelmersdale; nine years.
- Michael Mandale, 51, of Greystoke, near Penrith; three years, nine months.
- Daniel Brennan, 32, previously of Woodside North, Carlisle; four-and-a-half years.
- Christopher Cooke, 39, of no fixed address; five years, 219 days.
- Connor White, 23, of Eldon Drive, Carlisle; three years.
- Joseph Graham, 40, of Borrowdale Gardens, Carlisle; three years.
- Peter Bryson, 31, of Castlerigg Drive, Carlisle; three years.
- Heather Wills, 36, of Castlerigg Drive, Carlisle; two years, four months.
- Storme Abrahams, 32, of Mill Street, Longtown; two years.
- Bradley Hickman, 35, of Ellesmere Way, Carlisle; two years.
- Leon Kenyon, 48, of Osborne Avenue, Carlisle; one year, eight months.
A 16th defendant, Sharnee Dawkins, 29, previously of Crummock Street, Carlisle, will be sentenced later this year.
Officers used a range of investigative tactics to uncover the criminal conspiracy.
The conduct of the conspirators and investigations surrounding phone lines and text messages formed the basis of the investigation.
It also involved intricate desktop detective work.
A number of raids across the 10-week operation saw officers seize a variety of drugs, bulking agents, a large number of mobile phones and cash.
Detective Inspector David Cooper welcomed the sentences – and warned it sent a stark message to those involved in the county lines drugs world.
He said: “This result represents the tireless work and dedication of Cumbria Constabulary’s North Area Drug Squad and the local Crown Prosecution Service in our efforts to disrupt county lines drugs supply.
“Operation Nile was an ambitious investigation led by Detective Sergeant David Howard and his team to bring down a Merseyside crime group that had embedded itself in Carlisle.
“Drug squad detectives were assisted by local and regional policing teams, Crown Prosecution Service and local authority partners in their endeavours.
“This group, headed by Liverpool criminal Roy Hickman, executed a classic county lines drug supply model to distribute crack, heroin and powder cocaine throughout north Cumbria between June and November 2018.”
DI Cooper added: “Bringing this many offenders to justice was challenging and complex but was matched by the determination, tenacity and skill of the detectives and prosecutors involved.
“The substantial custodial sentences handed out today are welcomed and should be seen as a warning and the inevitable consequence for anyone getting involved in county lines drug supply in north Cumbria.”
DI Cooper spelled out the consequences of this type of crime.
He added: “County lines is exploitative drug supply and is devastating to local communities, well beyond just those who are directly involved in the local drugs scene.
“We specifically appeal to drug users and their families: do not succumb to the temptation or pressure to work with or for outside crime groups in this manner.
“Instead, seek assistance from the authorities or ask a friend or family member to do so on your behalf.
“The North Area Drug Squad and our partners will be relentless in targeting and disrupting all those involved in exploitative drug supply and we appeal to the whole community to help us.”