Latest news with #drugdealer
BreakingNews.ie
21 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Court rejects claim by man caught with guns and €1.7m cocaine that sentence too 'difficult'
The Court of Appeal has rejected an argument by a drug dealer caught with €1.7 million of cocaine and three firearms in his home that ten years in prison is going to be too difficult for him due to his psychological issues. Saying that it was clear the sentencing judge had been aware of the 'considerable personal circumstances' of Paul Bourke (57), Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy ruled that the court was rejecting the appellant's appeal against his ten-year sentence. Advertisement Bourke pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight counts relating to the possession of cocaine for sale or supply, the possession of €18,100 in cash, which was the proceeds of crime and the possession of three Glock 17 pistols, all on November 3rd, 2023. The offences took place in various locations, including Bourke's home address at Tullyvolty, Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, at an address at Ballygall Parade in Finglas, Co. Dublin, and addresses in Tallaght, Co. Dublin and Ashbourne, Co Meath. The sentencing court heard that when Bourke was arrested in Finglas, his van was found to contain €18,100 of cash. His Kilkenny home was then searched, where cocaine with a street value of €1,776,207 was discovered in an outhouse on the property. Three Glock 17 semi-automatic pistols were also discovered in a box, along with cannabis amounting to €19,000, the court heard. Drug paraphernalia, including a pressing machine, was also found at the scene. Advertisement When interviewed, Bourke made admissions to gardaí, admitting that he was distributing drugs around the country after an 'opportunity' had arisen about a year previously. He said he was under a certain amount of pressure from these persons. He did not give the names of anyone involved. Judge Martin Nolan described Bourke as a 'wholesaler and distributor' to people who were selling drugs, as he sentenced Bourke to ten years in prison last December. Appealing this sentence on Wednesday, defence counsel Eilis Brennan SC said that given the "extremely difficult psychological effects" of incarceration on the appellant, 'a little bit more latitude should be given' to mitigation in the case. Mr Justice John Edwards, presiding, said there could be a sad background to the appellant, but firearms were involved and a massive amount of drugs. Advertisement 'He was a distributor, and the garda search revealed all the paraphernalia of drug dealing, such as vacuum packaging machinery, tick lists, and weighing scales, and three usable firearms,' said Mr Justice Edwards, Ms Brennan said that someone offered the appellant the opportunity to be involved in this activity, but this then became a threat to become involved. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy noted that the accused had three weapons 'which are only used to murder people', to which Ms Brennan replied that the guns were stored in a box, with no suggestion that the appellant was using them. She went on to say that the appellant was acting under duress, and he is going to find prison more difficult due to "his diagnosis". To this, Mr Justice McCarthy noted that it was not really a diagnosis, merely a reference in a psychological report that the appellant has 'issues', with no indication of medication or treatment. Advertisement 'He's socially normative. A lot of people behind that may have issues, but they don't go around having €1.7million of cocaine,' said Mr Justice McCarthy. Ms Brennan asked the court to suspend some part of the sentence to give the appellant some light at the end of the tunnel. Counsel for the State, Carol Doherty BL, said the sentencing judge had conducted a very comprehensive balancing act, with the reduction by a third of the headline sentence of 15 years to 10 years being very generous. Remarking that in all the circumstances, the offending could have resulted in consecutive sentences, Ms Doherty said the sentence imposed was very fair. Advertisement In delivering the court's judgement, Mr Justice McCarthy said that the gravity of the offending was aggravated by the quantity of drugs involved, the possession of firearms, and the appellant's protracted involvement in an illicit enterprise, which involved a small factory-type operation and the distribution of cocaine. He said the appellant went well beyond being a low-level operative, as he had been remunerated to 'a not insufficient extent'. Saying that it was clear the sentencing judge had been aware of the appellant's considerable personal circumstances when the headline sentence was discounted by one third, Mr Justice McCarthy ruled that the court could not see how the decision to give such a discount could amount to an error. In summary, the court refused the appeal.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Cocaine dealer identified by distinctive tattoo jailed for 13 years
A major drug dealer has been jailed for 13 years after police identified him by a tattoo on his foot which said 'ouch!'. Northumbria Police said Dean Matthews, 46, of Lawrence Avenue, South Shields, South Tyneside, communicated via an encrypted mobile phone to co-ordinate Class A drug deals across the North East of England. Their investigations found that he had a major role in supplying cocaine in the South Tyneside, Sunderland and Durham areas between March and May 2020. The force said officers also linked Matthews to the offences by a distinctive tattoo of the word 'ouch!' on his foot which he sent a picture of via messages on the encrypted device. Northumbria Police said he was jailed last week for 13 years after 22kg of drugs valued at £803,000 were recovered. After the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Marc Michael of Northumbria Police said: 'This is yet another superb outcome for our communities. 'Matthews was a prominent member of an organised criminal network, and I am pleased that the tireless work of our officers has resulted in a significant period of imprisonment for him. 'We have zero tolerance for those involved in organised crime and the supply of cocaine in our force area.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Watch: the moment a drug dealer police nicknamed 'Gangster Granny' is arrested
THIS footage shows the moment a drug dealer nicknamed 'Gangster Granny' was arrested following an investigation into her gang picking up shipments of cocaine at an Essex port. Deborah Mason, 65, the leader of the family-run group, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Woolwich Crown Court on July 18. Mason and seven other people - six women and one man - were sentenced to a total of 106 years and six months in prison for their involvement in supplying nearly a tonne of cocaine over seven months. The group transported packages of imported cocaine and drove them around London, Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff between April 2023 and November 2023. Footage shows Mason in disbelief that she was being arrested. Arrested - Deborah Mason last year (Image: Metropolitan Police/PA) Mug shot - Deborah Mason (Image: PA/Metropolitan Police) The Met Police's investigation saw officers receive information on April 20, 2023, that a hired car driven by Mason left her house in Crayford Road, Tufnell Park, London, at 4.30am and arrived at Harwich Port at 6.20am. Police said regular trips were made by Mason to the port alongside the couriers to collect the cocaine. The group used encrypted messaging site Signal to communicate. Officers trawled through thousands of messages following their arrests which helped prove their criminal movements. Officers discovered through the messages that Mason - known as Queen Bee - was living an extravagant lifestyle with her profits, purchasing a Gucci collar and lead worth £400 for her cat. During the crime group's operation, the drugs had an estimated wholesale value of between £23million to £35million and a street value of £80million. The Metropolitan Police arrested all members of the gang in May 2024 except a woman called Anita Slaughter who was arrested in November 2024 after being identified from the messages.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Birmingham judge expresses sadness at jailing drug dealer caught just two days after setting up
A judge expressed sadness at having to jail a drug dealer who was caught just two days after starting out in his illegal enterprise. Imraj Randhawa was still setting up his client list when police spotted him supplying multiple known drug users in Bedworth, Warwickshire, within a few minutes of each other. They stopped him and ultimately found around £200 worth of cocaine and heroin in his Ford Kuga car and back at his home. READ MORE: First picture of asylum seeker who raped girl, 12, above shop after saying streets weren't safe Officers also seized various weapons, including a machete and claw hammer, as well as mobile phones. Randhawa claimed he only got into dealing after losing his job, trying to pay off his brother's debt and then becoming addicted to drink and cocaine himself. The 34-year-old from Tresillian Road, Coventry was jailed for two and a half years at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday, July 23, dashing his faint hopes of a suspended sentence which has a two-year threshold. He had pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply. Recorder William Webb KC said: "You made a bad choice. I think you know you made a bad choice and I am sure you would not make it again." He added: "This is a sad case. I have reduced the sentence at each stage as much as I can legitimately. "It does not go to a level where I'm permitted to consider a suspended sentence. "That's the nature of class A drug dealing I am afraid." Prosecutor Jas Dhaliwal told the court that shortly after 1.15pm on October 15 last year police arrested Randhawa in Saunders Avenue, Bedworth after observing him drive around in a Ford Kuga and interract with three known drugs users. They found various wraps in his car as well as two mobile phones, a claw hammer and £45 in cash. Officers seized further drugs and paraphernalia from a shoe box at his home and a list of contacts from his wardrobe. One of the phones, a Nokia, was examined. Mr Dhaliwal said: "There were 19 messages between October 13 and October 15. "The defendant was sending out marketing advertising messages to customers stating he's active. "He received direct messages from users to him asking to buy drugs for cash or on tick. He was arranging meetings." He added that a drugs expert witness concluded Randhawa had only set up the business two days before being caught. "He was still attempting to build up a client base given the list of mobile phone contacts," said Mr Dhaliwal. Jeevan Mann, defending, told the court Randhawa had a positive side to his character including teaching boxing to children. He said: "This defendant was employed but his employment was terminated. "He has a brother who had accumulated an extensive drug debt. "This defendant then bore the responsibility of paying off the debt. "As a consequence, he did start suffering mental health issues. "He became depressed and anxious about paying the debt. Eventually he was offered the opportunity to earn money by way of supplying drugs. "A decision he regrets. Looking back in hindsight he was naive to be getting involved in selling drugs." Mr Mann stated Randhawa was given a phone, a list of contacts and was told what to do. "At the same time, simultaneously, he began developong a dependence on alcohol and cocaine," he added.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
The Farm lead singer's son is jailed for 10 years after he was identified as £1.3million drug dealer when he sent picture of his pop star dad to criminal pal on EncroChat
The son of an iconic 1990s pop star has been jailed for 10 years after being identified as a major drug dealer when he sent a photo of his father on EncroChat. Thomas Hooton, 30, brokered drug deals worth £1.3million for organised criminals using the encrypted messaging service. But police were able to identify the criminal - who used the handle 'Ownraptor' - by references to his father Peter Hooton, 62, lead singer of The Farm. This included a picture the Liverpool fan sent of his father with the Champions League trophy. He also spoke in messages about driving a Black Audi A3 and that his 'arl fella' arranged his insurance. Hooton, of Crosby, was jailed for 10 years and eight months on Friday for conspiring to supply heroin, cocaine, cannabis and ketamine. He had 41 different EncroChat contacts, and ran county lines routes to criminals in Scotland, the north east and the south of England. At the very minimum, he was involved in the supply of 42.5kg of cannabis, 3.25kg of heroin, 10 kg of cocaine and 1kg of ketamine. His messages said he was in possession of around £400,000 and owed £258,000. The offending was committed between 26 March and 4 June 2020. The Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership, which arrested Hooton in April, is made up of officers from the National Crime Agency and Merseyside Police. Peter Hooton founded The Farm in 1983, with the band releasing a string of hits including their best known song, All Together Now. Charles Lander, defending, told the court that Thomas came from a 'close knit and loving family' but had 'lost his way and began mixing with the wrong crowd'. A string of 'prominent individuals', including West Derby MP Ian Byrne offered character references showing 'another side to the defendant' and his 'genuine remorse'. Mr Landler told the court: 'His parents, grandparents and partner are all adjusting to the fact that he will not be around for a number of years. 'I ask the court to reflect on the positive features that your honour knows about him. This is a defendant who has begun the first steps of rehabilitation. He is determined to lead a law abiding lifestyle and not trouble the courts again.' Judge Denis Watson KC said: 'Remorse and personal circumstances can play a significant part in the determination of sentences at the lower end, but, for crimes of the seriousness involved here, the part that they can play is much more limited. 'Lest anyone overlook this, all drug supply offences are offences of significant gravity and seriousness. 'These offences result in degradation and human misery for those who take the drugs, and for their families and the wider community. 'So much crime, and the impact of that crime on victims and society, generally flows from drug supply and the consequences of it.' Detective Chief Inspector Lynsay Armbruster said: 'It's clear Hooton was involved in organised crime for a long time before he was charged. 'His criminal and geographical reach will have taken considerable time to establish. 'His drug supply operations were on an almost daily basis, they were sustained and spanned the UK working with high level criminals.' EncroChat was infiltrated and taken down in 2020 by a European taskforce. The NCA leads Operation Venetic – the UK's response to the takedown. Merseyside OCP officers are committed to protecting the public by stopping the flow of firearms and drugs into Merseyside's criminal markets and county lines networks. Thomas Hooton will appear before Liverpool Crown Court later this year for a proceeds of crime hearing.
