[M]EMBERS of a criminal gang who plotted to supply class A drugs in Kendal have been locked up for a total of almost 11 years.
Carlisle Crown Court heard how three men and a woman were involved in a “county lines dealing operation”. Directed from Manchester, this targeted addicts in the Cumbrian town who were alerted to heroin and crack cocaine availability by a hub mobile phone.
Drugs valued at just over £1,170 was seized by police who busted gang members who were implicated through telephone and forensic evidence, cell site analysis and vehicle tracking.
But this amount was suspected as merely the “tip of the iceberg” of a conspiracy during which a leading player made almost daily trips to Kendal. He was Manchester-based Adam Hussain, a 36-year-old debt-ridden gambler described as the “local branch manager” of a plot which ran for several weeks earlier this year.
Jade Hewitson, 26, along with her 23-year-old ex-partner and fellow drug addict Zak Brown, peddled illicit substances in Kendal, where they had lived. Another town resident, user and dealer, 26-year-old Michael Jake Nelson, was also drafted into the criminal enterprise as a delivery boy.
All four admitted conspiring to supply class A heroin and crack cocaine, and were sentenced today.
Hussain, of Marshall Road, Manchester, was jailed for four years. Hewitson, of no fixed address, and Brown, latterly of Osborne Road, Manchester, were locked up for three years four months, and two years two months, respectively.
Nelson, of Castle Circle, Kendal, was jailed for 16 months.
Passing sentence, Recorder Julie Clemitson said: “This was a well organised supply chain.”
A spokesperson for the South Drugs Unit said: “These sentences show that the Courts will deal robustly with persons involved in this type offence. People need to be aware that should they become involved in this type of organised crime, they should expect a lengthy custodial sentence.
“Drugs have a negative effect on the community. South Drug Squad will continue to target both individuals and groups who believe they can supply drugs in South Cumbria. We will use all legislation open to us to make sure drugs are recovered and persons are brought to justice.”
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Stalker said: “This is yet another example of our officers working to disrupt a county lines drug network, where criminal groups from outside Cumbria seek to establish the supply of controlled drugs in other parts of the country, away from where they live.
“These criminal gangs look to exploit young and vulnerable people in the local area, who are used to carry out the street deals, and / or to let their homes be used as a base for the criminal activity.
“We are working hard within our Force to continue to tackle this sort of criminality, and ask anyone with information about drug dealing to get in touch with us. The part the public can play in bringing these offenders to justice can be vital.”
Rebecca McGregor for the CPS said: “There has been an upsurge in metropolitan-based gangs infiltrating themselves into smaller rural towns in Cumbria and taking over the drugs supply network. We worked closely with Cumbria police from the outset of the investigation to dismantle this gang who targeted drug users in Kendal.
“The prosecution demonstrated through telephone records evidence how the conspiracy was carried out. It showed how Adam Hussain, Zak Brown and Jade Hewitson each took turns in using a single mobile phone to advertise new stock and arrange the supply of drugs to their customers. When faced with the overwhelming evidence against them they were left with no other option than to plead guilty to the conspiracy.”
