Six men jailed for Coventry drugs operation
Six men have been jailed for between three and 16 years for their roles in a national drug-dealing operation.Police said Jonathan Mann, 31, Luke Purcell, 30, his brother Alexander Purcell, 32, Ryan Prescott, 29, and Ian Lewis, 28 - all from Coventry - as well as Thomas Johnson, 35, from Atherstone, north Warwickshire, moved large amounts of cocaine and other drugs around the country in 2022.They were investigated as part of Operation Target, a West Midlands Police campaign against organised crime.Five of the men were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday. One had already been sentenced.
Police said Mann, the group's ringleader, oversaw distribution, while Prescott and the Purcells acted as couriers.Officers estimated they were involved in moving more than 100kg of Class A drugs each.Lewis laundered the money earned from the sale of the drugs, while Johnson was identified as a customer who bought 5kg of cocaine for his own drug supply operation.
Police said that between April and November 2022, the men made 163 journeys up and down the country, staying in places including Crewe and Bristol before returning to Coventry with drugs and money.They were arrested that year.Police saw messages between the men discussing the transport of drugs and money.A search of Purcell's home also uncovered a blank-firing handgun which had been converted to fire live ammunition.During the operation, officers seized 21kg of cocaine, 4.9kg of ketamine, 17g of MDMA and more than £450,000 in cash.
Prescott and Mann pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to launder money and were jailed for eight years, and 13 years and four months respectively.For the same offences, as well as having an offensive weapon, Alexander Purcell was sentenced to nine years and seven months.Luke Purcell was jailed for 13 years and two months for conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs, conspiracy to launder money, production of cannabis and possession of of a firearm and ammunition.Johnson, who denied the charges against him, was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs and conspiracy to launder money, and was jailed for 16 years.Lewis had already been sentenced to three years in January, after pleading guilty to money laundering.
Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
25 minutes ago
- Sky News
Ballymena riots latest: Fire started 'after vandalism' at leisure centre as disorder breaks out for third night in row in N Ireland
21:47:04 Leisure centre on fire 'temporarily housed people from Ballymena' Reports in Ireland suggest the leisure centre said to be targeted by vandals tonight - see 20.59 - may have housed people moved from Ballymena, though this has not been verified. DUP politician Gordon Lyons posted on Facebook earlier today "a number of individuals were temporarily moved to Larne Lesiure Centre... following disturbances in Ballymena". "It has now been confirmed to us by the PSNI and Council that all these individuals are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne," he added. "Protesting is of course a legitimate right but violence is not and I would encourage everyone to remain peaceful." The Irish Independent said it is understood there is nobody currently inside the Leisure Centre. 21:14:01 'Force will be used against violent individuals', police warn crowd In Ballymena, police have gathered to deter any rioters planing disorder for a third night in a row. Our team is there now, where a crowd has been told to move away. A warning played via speakers tells them they should be "dispersed immediately". It then warns "force will be used against violent individuals". 20:59:56 Fire breaks out in town east of Ballymena A fire has reportedly broken out at a leisure centre in another town in the same county as Ballymena. Footage on social media shows masked individuals smashing windows and setting fires outside in Larne. The map below shows where Larne is, about 20 miles east of Ballymena in County Antrim. Local Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly said the leisure centre "has been attacked by masked thugs". "Windows smashed and fires lit nearby," he posted on social media. "Larne does not need this." 20:59:01 In pictures: Police brace for further rioting More pictures now from the scene in Ballymena, where police are preparing for another night of rioting. 20:46:01 Entire rows of houses displaying 'locals live here' signs We've already brought you reports of residents in Ballymena displaying signs in their windows about their nationality - in an attempt to avoid rioters targeting their homes. Now, our team on the ground bring us pictures of entire rows of homes displaying signs. Our correspondent Connor Gillies explains that these signs look organised, as they are all of the same design, printed on yellow paper with black lettering in caps saying "Locals live here". Some homes with the signs in their windows also have the Northern Irish flag or the Union flag, too. 20:30:01 More police arrive with shields and helmets We reported in the post below that the police presence in Ballymena is growing. The picture below, from the last few minutes, gives you an idea of the units now taking formation. Several vans have arrived, blocking off a street as more officers line up equipped with riot gear. 20:16:48 Significant police presence in Ballymena A brief update from Connor Gillies, our reporter on the ground in Northern Ireland. He says he's just arrived in Ballymena for the evening, where there is a significant police presence. We'll bring you more updates as we get them. 20:09:01 'I deplore the thuggery' More political reaction now, with former SDLP leader Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick reacting to the violence. She said earlier: "I deplore the thuggery and the racist violence in Ballymena over the last two days, where there were attacks on the police service of Northern Ireland and on ethnic minorities." Violence condemned 'unequivocally' DUP peer Lord Weir of Ballyholme added: "Can I join with others in commending the efforts and the bravery of the police and the other emergency services in dealing [with the] situation of the last 48 hours, and also unreservedly and unequivocally condemn the violence that has taken place in Ballymena. "Whatever the underlying issues that are there in Ballymena, nothing can ever justify the thuggery that is being perpetrated there." 19:45:01 Aftermath of 'ugly' night of 'racially motivated' violence - and how it all began Police say the violence this week in Ballymena is "clearly racially motivated". Connor Gillies explains it all began with a vigil for a teenage girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault. Two teenage boys, from Romania, have appeared in court connected to that investigation. Officers say the vigil was hijacked by a planned anti-immigration mob. Watch below as Gillies runs through the origins of the riots, and looks at the homes devastated by violence.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Mortar discovered at scene of fatal Sandhurst property fire
Decommissioned mortar and flammable chemicals have been found at the scene of a fire where a man died. A man in his 80s was airlifted to hospital with what proved to be fatal injuries after the blaze at a property on Oak Avenue in Sandhurst, Berkshire, on Friday. Police and fire crews remained at the scene to carry out investigations and discovered the mortar - which a specialist team has now safely destroyed - during a search of the site on Tuesday. The force, which said it was also working on removing the chemicals, said the death was being investigated as unexplained but was not believed to be suspicious. Det Supt Andrew Penrith, of Thames Valley Police, said: "This was a sad incident and our thoughts are with the family of the man who died." 'Priority is safety' He added: "Yesterday during searches of the property as part of the investigation officers found what was thought to be a decommissioned mortar."The [explosive ordnance disposal team] attended yesterday as a precaution and disposed of the mortar."Additionally some flammable and potentially hazardous chemicals have been located and we are working to remove these safely."Our priority is the safety of the wider public and those attending the scene. We do not believe there is a wider danger to the public, and evacuation of residents is not required."Officers and other agencies are likely to be at the property for some time to make sure the property is safe."There is no ongoing criminal investigation".The coroner has been informed. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Rioters torch cars and attack police in Salford
A 16-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer after riot police tackled 'serious disorder' in Greater Manchester. There were reports of cars being set alight and bricks being thrown during the disturbance in Salford. Around 60 youths gathered on Lower Broughton Road at about 1.30pm on Wednesday, using cars and wheelie bins to block off the road. There were reports of vehicles being stolen, damaged and burnt out, motorbikes being used and bricks thrown at officers, Greater Manchester Police said.
