Bradford drugs gang sentenced to combined total of over 25 years behind bars
North Yorkshire Police say they 'flooded' Harrogate with Class A drugs - and pleaded guilty to the offences in 2021
The leaders of an organised crime gang in Bradford - who 'flooded' a town in North Yorkshire with drugs have been jailed for more than a quarter of a century altogether.
All five were charged with supplying class A drugs - and pleaded guilty back in 2021 to the offences in Harrogate, as part of a wider policing operation.
North Yorkshire Police say the offenders made money 'at the expense' of vulnerable people through the sale of heroin and crack cocaine.
Qasib Hussain, 25, of HMP Wetherby, previously of Idle Road, Bradford, his brother Aqib Ali Hussain, 24, of Killinghall Road, and Hussain Khan, 25, of Greenway Road, Bradford, operated a county line drug dealing set-up known as the “Pat Line”.
Harrogate drug dealers, Natalie Hullah, 33, previously of Harrogate, but now of St Edmund’s Street, Manchester, and Melissa Nicole Barnwell, 49, of Skipton Road, Harrogate, were recruited by the gang to sell the drugs locally in return for payment in heroin or crack cocaine.
The Pat Line was one of three lines that were shut down by North Yorkshire Police through a Drug Dealing Telecommunications Restriction Order in 2020.
North Yorkshire Police say Qasib Hussain 'dictated the movement of large quantities of class A drugs' between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire.
It was revealed that couriers were used following a bulk text message sent from Qasib Hussain to users in Harrogate.
On occasion, the Pat Line was passed to others to manage such as his brother, Aqib Ali Hussain, with his role usually including topping-up county line handsets, and travelling to and from Harrogate.
Hussain Khan would step into Aqib’s role if Qasib was elsewhere.
The jail terms
During the investigations, police found that Aqib Ali Hussain had made a number of journeys to Harrogate, including 16 separate journeys over three consecutive days.
It showed the top trio were linked to the two phone numbers of the Pat Line through analysis of phone data messages, CCTV of them topping up the phones at local shops, and text messages between the group and their local dealers.
All five were charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and pleaded guilty in 2021. They were jailed for:
- Qasib Hussain – nine years and nine months
- Aqib Ali Hussain – six years and nine months, and an additional two years and three months connected to another investigation in West Yorkshire, bringing the total term behind bars to nine years
- Hussain Khan – six years and three months
- Melissa Barnwell – 16 months suspended for two years, as well as six months for Drug Rehabilitation Requirement and for her to undertake 25 days of rehabilitation activity
- Natalie Hullah – 21 months suspended for two years, and the requirement for her to undertake 21 days of rehabilitation activity
Detective Chief Inspector Fionna McEwan of North Yorkshire Police, said: “Today’s outcome is a result of a lengthy and painstaking investigation. We are pleased to finally see the results at court.
“They flooded Harrogate with drugs, making money at the expense of local users, the majority of whom were vulnerable due to their socioeconomic background and mental health conditions. They have no conscience and no concern whatsoever for the people they are putting at risk of serious harm. They now have ample time to reflect on their life-choices and the damage it causes.
“Drug dealing and the violence and exploitation that accompanies county lines remains a foremost priority for North Yorkshire Police. We are committed to disrupting the offenders and taking those responsible off the streets.
“We urge anyone with information to continue to report information about drug dealing in their area. It’s vital in helping us piece together the bigger picture.
“No matter how insignificant you think the information is, please call us. And if you don’t want to speak to us, you can pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers.”