Drug gangs who exploited vulnerable people - including in Northwich - jailed for 180 years

More than 35 men and women were sentenced this week at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Marney Styles was found guilty on Wednesday, June 20, at Liverpool Crown Court of conspiring to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

The court heard how nine gangs from Liverpool groomed, manipulated and exploited adults and children to deal heroin and crack cocaine on the streets of Widnes.

The callous gangs would seek out vulnerable members of the community, take over their home as a base to deal drugs and coerce them into living a life indebted to them - a term known as ‘cuckooing’. Being fearful of the gang’s reputation and left feeling frightened and bullied they would become trapped into their world with no way out often ending up becoming reliant on the organised crime group who controlled their lives.

The Shotty team, including Stevie Holloway and the Mclelland brothers - Ryan and Michael, were part of a Liverpool based drug gang who controlled the supply of crack cocaine and heroin into Widnes.

They kept their drug dealing under the radar by renting a flat in Sidings Court, Widnes, to use as a base and would supply the drugs directly themselves rather than using local drug users. Their criminal activity would often take place at a nearby children’s play area.

On occasions the staff at the letting agency for Sidings Court attempted to visit the property but would find it barricaded with a fridge.

The Shotty team, including Stevie Holloway and the Mclelland brothers - Ryan and Michael, were part of a Liverpool based drug gang who controlled the supply of crack cocaine and heroin into Widnes.

They kept their drug dealing under the radar by renting a flat in Sidings Court, Widnes, to use as a base and would supply the drugs directly themselves rather than using local drug users. Their criminal activity would often take place at a nearby children’s play area.

On occasions the staff at the letting agency for Sidings Court attempted to visit the property but would find it barricaded with a fridge.

Their class A drug dealing would often take place on playing fields close to the cuckooed address often used by young children.

They would also travel to Exeter to supply heroin and crack cocaine, remaining there for up to a week before returning to Liverpool.

The cold-hearted Jay team controlled by the Swinnerton brothers - Jordan and Dylan , supplied heroin and crack cocaine from the home of a drug user.

They would deal drugs themselves and used vulnerable members of the community including a 14-year-old girl they had coerced to carry out drug dealing on their behalf while they sat safely in a house nearby.

The court was also told how Sarah Hall, one of the gang members, dealt heroin and crack cocaine with a young child nearby.

PICTURED: Chainsaw used by the Swinnerton gang in Northwich on the 20 September 2017 while in dispute with other men

The Jay gang also supplied drugs in Northwich under a different name known to local drug users as the Freddy drug line.

In September last year, Dylan Swinnerton, Jack Storey and Michael Price, wielding a running chainsaw, were charged with affray following a confrontation with another group of men in the town.

Harrison controlled the brad gang and often supplied class A drugs from his car with a small child in the back. On 27 September a warrant executed at his house resulted in almost £10,000 in cash and drugs seized.

The court was told how the financial gain each individual gang stood to make from the supply of heroin and crack cocaine would run into the hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Timothy Allen, 46, of Grizedale, Widnes, was jailed for five years three months for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

Sarah Hall, 42, of Canterbury Road, Widnes, was jailed for 18 months for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

Steven James Dow, 45, of Alder Drive, Widnes, was jailed for 22 months for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

Stephen O'Connor, 48, of Wavertree Avenue, Widnes, was jailed for 18 months for supplying class A heroin and cocaine.

Ian Payne, 36, of Bankfield Road, Widnes, was sentences to three years four months for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

Leanne Beneke, 28, of Arley Drive, Widnes, was sentenced to two years for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

David Lomax, 46, of Wavell Avenue, Widnes, was jailed for 27 months for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

Carol Whitby, 35, of Bankfield Road, Widnes, was jailed for three years four months for conspiracy to suppoly class A heroin and crack cocaine.

Julie Edge, 49, of Browning Avenue, Widnes, was jailed for two years five months for being concerned in the supply of class A heroin and crack cocaine.

Detective Superintendent Aaron Duggan, Head of Crime at Cheshire Constabulary, said: “I hope today’s substantial sentencing will offer reassurance to the local community affected by the actions of these organised criminals. In particular the vulnerable adults and children who were targeted to deliver deal drugs on their behalf after being criminally exploited, coerced and manipulated to work for the criminals.

“Of real concern was the level of fear these people lived in, leaving vulnerable adults feeling trapped and forced into allowing drug dealers to use their homes in what has been termed - ‘cuckooing’.

"A sad aspect identified during the investigation was how children as young as 14-years-old were also being exploited. We have been working closely with partner agencies to safeguard and protect these vulnerable people and the wider community.

“It was evidently clear that these organised crime groups had a blatant disregard for the law or who they used to deal drugs on their behalf. Communities tolerate serious and organised crime for lots of reasons, predominantly though it is through fear.

“The investigation itself was lengthy and complex with a dedicated team of detectives and staff working tirelessly over 18 months alongside the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure those engaged in serious and organised crime were brought to justice.”

David Keane, police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, added: “I would like to commend the work of officers who have worked tirelessly on this investigation to dismantle this drugs ring at its core and bring its perpetrators to justice.

“The exploitation of anyone in our communities, and in particular vulnerable children, will not be tolerated by police in Cheshire. Every day officers from the force are reacting to intelligence provided by communities to seize drugs, in many cases before the criminals have the opportunity to deal them.

“I would encourage anyone in Cheshire who has suspicions of drug activity or other types of exploitation taking place in their community to report it to Cheshire Police, and I would like to reassure them that they’ll be given protection from officers and partner agencies to ensure they’re no longer in a vulnerable position.”

James Allison, senior crown prosecutor with Mersey Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service has worked closely with Cheshire Police over months to bring this prosecution to court.

On sentencing, he said: "This brings to an end the increasingly violent and dangerous drugs trade operated by these people.

“The tactics they used are well known; they bring drugs from a large city into small towns and then coerce vulnerable and intimidated locals to help them ply their trade.

“It’s a nasty, vicious and destructive business that causes misery for the people who get caught up in it and the innocent bystanders who live in the areas they move into.

“These dealers operated out of residential properties, even near a children’s play area and some had children with them when they completed a deal.

“These people don’t think they have to abide by the rules and regulations that the rest of us do. But they’re wrong and a day like today shows that they can only get away with it for so long.

“Cheshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service worked together for months on this and the strength of the case is proven in the fact that so many of them pleaded guilty with just one insisting on her innocence. Now she has been found guilty and they are all in jail.”

Halton Cllr Dave Cargill, board member for community safety, said: “This is a fine example of all agencies working together to achieve a goal. The people in these areas can feel a lot safer tonight knowing these people are behind bars.”