2 days ago
Drugs plot gang flooded streets of Stoke-on-Trent with heroin and crack
Three men have been jailed for their roles in a plot to supply class A drugs across Stoke-on-Trent. Connor Cox, aged 27, Haydn White, aged 26 and Christopher Cartwright, aged 46, were involved in conspiracies to supply heroin and crack cocaine in the city in 2022.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Cox performed a 'management role' and orchestrated the prices and the sale of drugs to users. Meanwhile, Cartwright bagged up the drugs and took part in warehousing the drugs and resupplying the dealers. And White was one of the dealers who sold to addicts on the street.
Now Cox has been jailed for four years and four months with Cartwright and White each locked up for two years and four months. A fourth defendant, Jack Scarlett, was sentenced to three years detention in a young offenders' institution in 2023 for four charges of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply and two charges of criminal property.
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Prosecutor Rachel Pennington said police in plain clothes saw a man on a bicycle in Abbots Road, Abbey Hulton, on September 7, 2022. Scarlett exchanged something with the man. He was later stopped and searched and arrested for possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.
A short time later police searched an address in Abbots Road where White was. He was arrested and police seized a manbag which contained cash, a bag containing white powder, three bags containing white powder and a phone. White confirmed the phone was his. He was arrested.
A further search was carried out on September 28, 2022 at Cartwright's flat in Malcolm Court, Abbey Hulton. He was inside and was arrested for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine. A mobile phone and £70 were seized.
There was a search of an address in Norton Avenue, Burslem, where Cox was arrested. He was detained for conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Police seized £60 cash.
Officers carried out further searches on November 14, 2022 and Scarlett was arrested. Police seized drugs, £1,100 cash and a phone.
Miss Pennington said: "Cox controlled the supply of the drugs, directing others what to do and what to charge. Cartwright was responsible for bagging up the drugs and providing them to White and Scarlett to distribute."
The prosecutor said messages showed White reporting back to Cox about the drugs available and the money he made on individual days.
Miss Pennington added that Cox was the lead offender and his offending was further aggravated as he was subject to a two-year suspended sentence at the time for possession with intent to supply cocaine and ecstasy.
All three defendants admitted two charges of conspiracy to supply a class A drug. Cox also admitted acquiring criminal property.
Andrew Turnock, representing Cartwright, of Malcolm Drive, Abbey Hulton, said his client had not committed any further offences since his arrest. He said: "It is quite clear he was acting under direction from Cox. He is a vulnerable individual with some mental health issues. He was the storeman of the drugs. He held the drugs for Cox. He was not involved in the advertising of the product. He was a back room operative. He saw it as easy money. His financial gain was modest."
Scott Ashdown, mitigating for White, of Elmsmere Road, Abbey Hulton, said his client had no convictions at the time of his offending. He started using drugs which took hold of him which impacted on his ability to get up in the morning and work as a plasterer.
Mr Ashdown said: "After losing his job those he associated with introduced him to dealing. His involvement was for five weeks and four days, and not a day longer. It came to an end when he was arrested. That was the wake-up call he needed. He stopped using drugs completely."
James Kumar, mitigating for Cox, of Birchfield Road, Abbey Hulton, said: "There was no lavish lifestyle here. He does have relevant previous convictions and he was subject to the previous sentence when he committed these offences, which is an aggravating feature. He is remorseful for his behaviour. He has accepted what he has done. He is a hard worker. This is somebody who wants to work lawfully and do right by his family and himself."
Judge Richard McConaghy said: "In 2022 the three of you were involved in a conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin. You each had different roles. There were lengthy conversations between the three of you. Cox, you directed what the price was and how to supply these drugs to users. Cartwright, you were involved in the bagging up and the warehousing of the drugs and the resupply of those who would take them out. White, you were one of the distributors. Cox operated a management role. You are in a more serious position."
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