Latest news with #crack cocaine
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
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. READ MORE: King Charles to address nation at 7.30am tomorrow in historic move READ MORE: Girl, 4, who died in Waterworld tragedy named as inquest opens 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." Get all the latest news from court here
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Drug dealing teen caught with Rambo knife and £300 of crack cocaine told police: 'I'm going to jail'
A crack cocaine dealer was 'encouraged to take drugs by his mum', a court has heard. Dylan Thomson grew up "with the absence of a proper parent" and now has "a pro-criminal attitude" according to the probation service. Thomson returned home hoping that his mum would look after him last year, after a spell staying with a relative in Scotland. But Teesside Crown Court has heard that his mother could not care for him and the then 18-year-old was left homeless. In the early hours of February 26, he was travelling in a car stopped by the police, in Grangetown. READ MORE: North-east gang behind £13m international drug smuggling operation that sent 'mules' to Thailand READ MORE: Woman left nervous dog Star with 'ribs and hips sticking out in squalid conditions' The police stopped the Vauxhall on Birchington Avenue after receiving information about possible drug dealing, and Thomson was searched. He had 16 wraps on crack cocaine on him. He told the police: "It's my third time in court, I'm going to jail" before admitting he had a knife with him. He was searched again at the police station, and more cocaine was found. In total, the teen was caught with £300 worth of crack cocaine divided into .2 and .1 gram wraps. He said he kept the Rambo-style knife for his own protection, whilst out and about. Thomson went onto deny the offences at Teesside Magistrates' Court before changing his plea and admitting to the possession of a class A drug with intent to supply; and the possession of a bladed article in public. He has a previous conviction for selling crack cocaine last year; and another for being a passenger in a car, taken without consent. He has never been to prison before. In mitigation, Stuart Bell told the the court that Thomson's grandma had recently died, but that his aunt has offered him a room when he is released from prison. Thomson's aunt listened from the public gallery as the court heard that a pre-sentence report by the probation service found that Thomson's mother "encouraged him to take drugs" last year and that he had endured "a difficult and challenging childhood with the absence of a proper parent." The report stated that he has a "pro-criminal attitude." Judge Richard Bennett told Thomson that his attitude - "...is largely down to your upbringing. You saw pro-criminal attitudes from your parents." Thomson, of Myrddin Baker Road in Grangetown was given a 33-month sentence in a Young Offenders' Institution. "You've now got two very serious crimes on your record for drug trafficking," the judge told him, "do not follow the example of your parents. "Sort yourself out in prison. Get a job, get away from it all. Do you understand?." For Teesside news direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
BBC News
23-07-2025
- BBC News
'Greedy' Liverpool heroin dealers jailed over £600k drug operation
Three drug dealers who sold more than £600,000 of heroin and crack cocaine and exploited people "to line their own pockets" have been Police found Leroy Parris, Raymond Escoffrey and Raymond Nicholls ran the operation between October 2024 and January this year from a home on Earle Road in Liverpool. They all admitted being involved in conspiracy to supply and possession with intent to supply the class A drugs and were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court. The force said the men likely supplied about 6.8 kg (13.2 lbs) of heroin and crack cocaine worth more than £682,000 in a 12-month period around Toxteth. Parris, 41, of Carter Street in Toxteth, was jailed for nine years and was also sentenced for possessing a stun gun, a prohibited weapon, and possessing a firearm when prohibited. Raymond Leon Escoffrey, 41, of Shakespeare Avenue, Southdene, Kirkby was jailed for eight years and six months, while Raymond Paul Nicholls, 38, of Princes Road, Toxteth was sentenced to eight years and eight months. Police raided the Earle Road address on 4 January and found the three men, alongside a Land Rover in the back garden with false registration were arrested and dozens of wraps of crack cocaine and heroin were seized from the vehicle.A stun gun device was also found in the boot of a nearby BMW car and officers found an air rifle inside the property. Det Sgt Rebecca Hilton said the men had supplied the drugs "without a care for the harm they were inflicting, all for their own greed"."These three men exploited some of the most vulnerable people in the L8 community in order to line their pockets," she said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
