Five men from Ellesmere Port and Chester have been jailed for their part in a cocaine dealing enterprise, following a ‘protracted and complex’ covert operation by police.
Joseph Cooper, 34, of Bebington Road, Ellesmere Port, Andrew Green, 38, of Eaton Grove, Chester, Scott Thomson, 32, of Greasby Drive, Ellesmere Port, Billy Neil, 21, of Overpool Road, Ellesmere Port and Jack Neil, 19, of Sutton Way, Ellesmere Port, were sentenced for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs at Chester Crown Court on Friday, after all earlier pleaded guilty.
The men were arrested on the morning of November 7, 2013, after police executed warrants on each of their homes - the culmination of a six month operation.
From January 11 to June 17, 2013, police observed the group's stash of drugs, which was buried in the soil in Charter Crescent, Ellesmere Port.
Officers systematically checked the stash over that period and found 294g of cocaine of high purity, believed to have a street value of between £29,000 to £35,000.
The court heard that Cooper, who was said to have played a ‘leading role’ in the enterprise, attended the stash on at least 21 occasions over the six months and replenished the drugs, whereas the other four only took from it.
He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
Green, whose role was described by his defence barrister Myles Wilson as ‘the man on the phone’, received a sentence of five years.
Defending Thomson, Stephen Rodgers said his client had been ‘tempted by the opportunity of making some quick and relatively easy money’ after being made redundant, and only worked one day a week in the operation.
He received a custodial sentence of 27 months.
Referred to as ‘a runner’ in the ‘very lowest rung of this particular enterprise’ by his defence barrister Christopher Hunt, Billy Neil was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
Jack Neil's defence barrister Myles Wilson said the ‘immature’ and ‘emotional’ teenager ‘got involved in this with very little reward’.
“He was moving drugs from place to place and did not do any dealing to customers,” Mr Myles added.
Sentencing, Judge Nicholas Woodward said: “Between January and June of last year, to one extreme or another, you were all concerned in the supply of cocaine.
“A stash was being used by you to store the drugs, and take from and replenish as required.
“This was ongoing dealing which occurred over a six month period.”
Judge Woodward added: “I accept that you are all genuinely remorseful for what you did.”
Detective Sergeant Mike Ankers said: “It was a very protracted and complex investigation.
“We acted from intelligence and monitored the stash over a six month period. Systematically, we would attend and weigh the drugs, which would get replenished.”
