Northwest drug dealers jailed

12 get total of 66 years

TWELVE men have been jailed for a total of 66 years and seven months for conspiring to supply class A, class B and class C drugs across the North West.

They were all arrested in February 2011 following a series of raids in Lancashire, Merseyside, Cumbria and North Wales.

Daniel Coady, 23, of no fixed address but from the Penwortham, Lancashire area, was given a two year prison sentence at Preston Crown Court today (Tuesday 20 December). He had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B and class C drugs.

Liam Melton, 27, of New Oxford Street, Workington, Cumbria, was also jailed for two years at Preston Crown Court today (Tuesday 20 December) after earlier pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class C drugs.

Five men were given prison sentences at Preston Crown Court on Monday 5 December.

Gary Kays, 51, of Mallard Close, West Derby, Merseyside, was jailed for eight years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

John Busuttil, 46, of York Close, Leyland, Lancashire, was given a six year and nine month custodial sentence. He had pleaded earlier guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and class C drugs.

Christopher Ormandy, 28, of Lordens Road, Liverpool, was given a six year prison sentence. He had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Garry Dover, 33, of Frazer Street, Workington, Cumbria, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and class C drugs and was jailed for four years and eight months.

David Rodger, 35, of HMP Preston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was jailed for eight years. He was also given an indeterminate prison sentence for public protection, which is to run concurrently, for his part in attacking a man at his home address in New Longton. He head earlier pleaded guilty to wounding in relation to the offence which took place on Monday 14 June 2010.

A further two men were sentenced as part of the investigation at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday 29 November.

Jonathan Blackburn, 32, of Bedburn Drive, Liverpool, was jailed for five years and eight months after earlier pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Gary Cluskey, 37, of Chapel Lane, New Longton, Lancashire, was given a seven years and four months custodial sentence. He had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Three men were also jailed on Monday 28 November at Preston Crown Court.

Lee Ormandy, 39, of Chapel Lane, New Longton, Lancashire was jailed for nine years and four months. He had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and class C drugs.

Richard Painter, 32, of St Davids Road, Preston, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was jailed for five years and ten months.

Michael McCue, 21, of Higher Croft, Penwortham, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class C drugs and was given a one year prison sentence.

A further man – Stephen Spiers, 28, of Hall Park View, Workington – was sentenced as part of the investigation on Tuesday 29 November. He was given a 12-month community order and 200 hours of unpaid work after earlier pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class C drugs.

Det Insp Andy Black from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (TITAN) said: "This group had an adverse affect on the communities of Lancashire and Cumbria through their supply of drugs.

"We have worked with the communities to tackle this, together with the local police in New Longton, Workington and Knowsley, over a 12 month period to effectively disrupt and dismantle this organised group of criminals. I believe that this has left the communities they operated in safer places to live.

"We are committed to tackling organised crime gangs and cracking down on illegal drugs supply and we will do all we can to put those involved behind bars. No criminal is untouchable – with the right information we will take robust action.

"We will continue to listen to the concerns of local residents and act upon them. Information from the public is vital for us to take action against suspected criminals and I would urge residents to work with us by telling us about any suspicious activity.”

As part of the investigation half a kilogram of cocaine, with a street value of £200,000, was seized. One kilogram of amphetamine with a street value £3,000 was also seized along with 8,700 benzylpiperazine tablets with a street value of £24,000 and £2,400 worth of temazepam.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (TITAN), which brings together the six regional police forces to create a specialist task force that targets serious organised crime across county borders.

Joanne Cunliffe, Crown Advocate from CPS Complex Case Unit, added: "These criminals were involved in the supply of large amounts of drugs across the North West and, by putting them behind bars, the CPS and police have removed a significant source of drugs in the region.

"We worked closely with officers from the regional organised crime unit in bringing these men to justice. The weight and detail of the evidence persuaded all of them to plead guilty before a trial. In fact a number of defendants pleaded guilty at an early stage which is a testament to the strength of the case that we were able to build against them.

"The message is clear – prosecutors and police in the North West are determined to pursue those supplying drugs to our local communities and to prosecute them through the courts.”

Anyone with information about drugs in their community can contact their local police or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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