News: Drug dealers admit 65 charges after massive police operation

Nov 18 2009 by Allison Dickinson, Chester Chronicle

DRUG dealers from across the city appeared at Chester Crown Court this week following a clampdown by Cheshire Police.

On Monday, 20 defendants admitted a total of 65 charges of supplying heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine to an undercover police officer during Operation Strikeout.

The pleas were heard by Judge David Hale in front of a packed and rowdy public gallery.

The defendants admitting drugs charges were: Julie Ballantyne, 46, of Auckland Road, Blacon; Laura Elaine Broome, 41, of City Road, Chester; Benjamin Dudley Butler, 26, of Barbridge Mews, Nantwich; Ben Paul Cooke, 27, of Browning Close, Blacon; Anthony David Coombes, 34, of Vicars Cross Road, Chester; Brian Rodney Cooper, 39, of The Parade, Blacon; Stephen John Dixon, 41, of Nevin Road, Blacon; Gerard Peter Ecker, 35, of Vicars Cross Road; Kieran Peter Forshaw-Roddy, 22, of Stamford Road, Blacon; Joseph Alexander Henry, 19, of no fixed address; Gethin William Kirwan, 32, of Watergate Street; Stephen Gerard McCarthy, 31, of Downham Place, Blacon; Daniel Meredith, 22, of Plas Dinas, Blacon; Carl Mullen, 24, of Hughson Street, Liverpool; Paul Mullen, 20, of Grafton Street, Liverpool; Lee Nimmo, 20, of Lambton Road, Liverpool; Darren Anthony Oglesby, 37, of Egerton Street, Chester; Ian Darren Parker, 22, of Medlar Close, Lache; Christopher Gary Simpson, 38, of Friars Mews, Bangor-on-Dee; Steven Mark Sumpter, 47, of Mason Street, Chester.

Meredith also admitted robbery and possessing an offensive weapon and Henry admitted robbery and making a threatening gesture to intimidate a witness.

Anton Dean Walsh, 32, of Halkyn Road, Hoole denied supplying heroin and crack cocaine and will return to Chester Crown Court for mention on December 17, when the other defendants will be sentenced.