Members of a crime gang who set up a million pound drugs network across Scunthorpe have been jailed
The last of eight men has been sentenced today in court
An organised crime group who formed a drugs network across Scunthorpe have been jailed.
Police first launched an investigation in January last year after receiving reports of burglaries and car thefts.
Detectives found the group had divided the town into three - running a dedicated drug line to service each area.
All eight members have been called 'dangerous and violent individuals'.
Police say their jail terms - totalling a combined 82 years and two months - will stop a 'significant' amount of drugs finding their way onto the streets of Scunthorpe.
At Hull Crown Court this week, seven of the gang were sentenced yesterday, Thursday 9 May, with the eighth being sentenced today, Friday 10 May.
• Bert Keeton, 22, of Grange Lane South, Scunthorpe entered a not guilty plea and a trial commenced on Thursday 2 May. However, two-days into the trial, Keeton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B controlled drugs and conspiracy to commit aggravated burglaries and he was sentenced to eight-years and six-months in prison, with an additional four-years to run concurrently.
• Tyler Gallagher, 22, of Berkley Court, Scunthorpe pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B controlled drugs and conspiracy to commit aggravated burglaries and was sentenced to 11-years and eight-months in prison, with an additional four-years and three-months to run concurrently.
• Liam Pollock, 22, of Lodge Road, Scunthorpe pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B controlled drugs and conspiracy to commit aggravated burglaries and was sentenced to 12-years and two-months in prison, with an additional four-years and 18-months to run concurrently.
• Charlie Rhodes, 27, of Grange Lane South, Scunthorpe pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B controlled drugs and conspiracy to commit aggravated burglaries and was sentenced to 14-years and four-months in prison, with an additional four-years to run concurrently.
• Michael Lowther, 19, of Buckingham Avenue, Scunthorpe pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B controlled drugs and conspiracy to commit aggravated burglaries and was sentenced to nine-years in a youth offending institute, with an additional five-years to run concurrently.
• Joel Haines, 29 of Lodge Road, Scunthorpe pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B controlled drugs and conspiracy to commit aggravated burglaries and was sentenced to 10-years and nine-months in prison, with an additional four-years to run concurrently.
• Josh Cooling, 29, of Hereward Place, Scunthorpe. pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply class B controlled drugs and was sentenced to two-years and nine-months in prison.
• Jamie Hemsworth, 29, of Dryden Road, Scunthorpe pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply class B controlled drugs and was sentenced to one-year in prison.
Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Paul French said:
“This was an extremely complex investigation into an organised crime group who went to great lengths to distribute drugs and commit crime, bringing misery to our communities.
“By removing this dangerous gang from our community, we have stopped a significant amount of drugs finding their way on to the streets of Scunthorpe, along with the associated crime and antisocial behaviour that goes with this kind of offending.
“I would like to thank the investigations team for their dedication and hard work in building a strong case against these brutal individuals. The investigation saw detectives spending hundreds of hours trawling through a vast amount of mobile phone data, along with forensic and tactical enforcements, in order to put forward a thorough prosecution case.
“The messages, videos and audio notes recovered provided significant evidence that the gang were involved in the taxing of cannabis grows and allowed us to bring these violent criminals to justice.
“Keeton, Gallagher, Pollock, Rhodes, Lowther, Haines, Cooling and Hemsworth are dangerous and violent individuals, and I’m pleased that they are behind bars and are being punished for their actions. I hope that it also sends a clear message to those who think they can get away with committing crime in our force area.
“I’d also like to thank the public for their assistance, as by telling us about what is going on in your area, helps inform parts of our investigation and creates a bigger picture.
“We recognise the impact these types of offences can have on local communities, and we are absolutely committed to investigating these thoroughly. Through the hard work and dedication of our specialist teams, with the support of local communities, we will hold offenders to account - making the towns and villages of Northern Lincolnshire safer and stronger.”