Preston drugs gang jailed for over 75 years

Members of an organised crime group (OCG) from Preston have been sentenced to a total of more than 70 years for their roles in a conspiracy to supply between £200,000 and £400,000 worth of class A drugs.

Eight men and five women were sentenced over six dates (January 24th and 26th, February 2nd, 3rd and 4th and today, March 1st) at Preston Crown Court for offences including conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.

Of those, nine people received immediate custodial sentences totalling 75 years and eight months.

It follows a year-long investigation, codenamed Operation Zodiac, into the ‘Titch Line’ OCG and the supply of class A drugs in the Plungington and Ingol areas.

The group were brought to police attention in 2020, following an increase in drug-related violence in the area. Throughout 2021 an investigation team carried out warrants at several addresses, gathering evidence including large quantities of class A drugs, cash and mobile phones.

In total around 50 mobile phones were examined and over a million lines of call data analysed to establish who was involved in the OCG and to what extent.

It was found that the Titch Line was set up and headed by Jordan Murray – aka Titch – aged 28, of HMP Lancaster Farms, who gave directions and orders from his cell at the prison using contraband mobile phones.

Levi Wilson, aged 29, of Eversleigh Street, Preston, controlled the group on a day-to-day basis and at street level from early 2020 onwards. He took control of the group through intimidation and violence, including against rival dealers.

Joshua Wolstenholme, 19, of Ellen Street, Preston, was viewed as Wilson’s ‘lieutenant’ and was tasked with passing on orders and running drugs.

Kasib Hussain, 41, of Burrow Road, Preston, sourced drugs and acted as a courier and as a street dealer, while Gail Martin, 49, of St Thomas’s Road, Preston, allowed her house to be used for the supply of the drugs.

The remaining 10 people – listed below – were involved as street dealers.

Evidence showed that Wilson had also used the tactic of ‘cuckooing’ - taking over the addresses of vulnerable members of the community and then forcing them to deal drugs on his behalf.

The number of addresses the group operated out of, the amount of people working for them and the number of phone numbers they used meant they operated on a 24/7 basis.

Det Sgt Richard Clancy, of Preston Target Team, said: “The sentences handed down to the group are the culmination of a long and complex investigation, which established that the gang was responsible for up to 10 kilos of class A drugs flooding the streets of Preston.

“In addition they exploited vulnerable members of the community, using fear and threats to ensure they did what they were told.

“I hope the fact that members of the OCG have now been jailed reassures the communities of Lancashire that we are committed to tackling organised crime on this scale, in turn helping to make their streets safer.

“Drugs are a blight on our communities, bringing nothing but harm, and we will not tolerate their supply anywhere in our county.

“These sentences should also serve as a warning to those who are involved in such criminality: we will continue to dismantle drugs supply networks by bringing those responsible to justice.”