Tearful Chelsee Healey watches as boyfriend sentenced over cannabis crime ring
Chelsee Healey was in the public gallery as her long-term partner and father of her child, Edward Rainford, was sentenced to two years in prison for his part in what a judge described as a 'boutique' cannabis supply chain.
Rainford, 32, and co-defendant Jay Boyd, 28, appeared at Manchester Crown Court after admitting to their involvement in the sale of cannabis between November 2022 and September 2023. The case stemmed from a Greater Manchester Police investigation targeting Class B drug supply networks.
Surveillance caught Rainford and Boyd in a Costa Coffee branch last July, openly discussing drug deals using coded language like '33 per cent,' 'a 4.5,' and 'it's a risk.' A raid at a Swinton property shortly after uncovered cannabis, packaging materials, and a 'list of debtors.' Boyd's fingerprints were found at the scene, and phone data later tied both men to the operation.
Prosecutor Gwen Henshaw revealed their messages detailed specific strains like 'Wedding Cake' and 'Gorilla Glue,' along with photos and videos showcasing cannabis products and stacks of cash. One message from Rainford said: 'I think I've got a quick one for us if you're interested.' Another included a request for product footage to forward on.
'The pair weren't just users,' Henshaw told the court. 'They were actively supplying and aware of the seriousness of what they were doing.'
Judge Peter Horgan agreed, noting they 'worked together to sell cannabis in large quantities,' though he stopped short of calling it high-level organised crime. 'This was not a massive enterprise,' he said, 'but there were others buying from them and selling on.'
Rainford's lawyer, Mark Friend, said the former Army serviceman's motivation was purely financial. 'There were no encrypted phones or complex systems. It lacked sophistication,' he argued. 'He was a cog in a bigger operation.'
Friend acknowledged Rainford's poor decision-making but described him as someone with strong family support and a willingness to work after release. 'He is not scared of hard work,' he said. 'He has a child, a stepdaughter, and a family who believe he can live a law-abiding life.'
Judge Horgan, however, was unimpressed with the repeated references to Rainford's military past. 'There is only so much you can draw from the same well,' he remarked.
He reminded Rainford he was still on licence from a previous prison sentence for violence when arrested. 'You let your family down and left your partner to raise two children,' the judge said. 'This wasn't a slip-up - it went on for months.'
Jay Boyd, who lived with his mother and had recently qualified as an air-conditioning engineer, also received a prison sentence of 18 months. His lawyer, Tanya Elahi, described his involvement as a one-time error in judgment made during a period of financial hardship.
However the judge disagreed. 'A lapse in judgement does not occur over many months,' Horgan stated. 'You actively chose to engage in criminality for profit. Custody is the only appropriate response.'
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