Eight defendants have been jailed in the past week – including five yesterday (15 July) – for their role in a conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in Barrow and Manchester.
The group have been convicted of conspiring to supply heroin and crack cocaine between the dates of September 2022 and January 2023.
Last week the following sentenced were handed down at Preston Crown Court:
- Jordan Baker, 28, of Salford, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
- Sarah Sayle, 50, of Barrow, was sentenced to 68 months in prison
- Moneeb Sheikh, 26, Manchester was sentenced to 33 months in prison
- Hannah Feeley, 25, Eccles was sentenced to three years in prison.
Yesterday the following sentences were handed down at Preston Crown Court:
- John Thompson, 44, of Barrow was sentenced to 65 months in prison
- Kirsty Davidson, 36, of Barrow was sentenced to 56 months in prison
- Latham Burke, 50, of Barrow was sentenced to three years in prison
- Steven Payne, 54, of Barrow was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison
A ninth defendant – Sheldon McDuffus, 26, of Stelfox Street, Eccles – was also sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years for possession with intent to supply cannabis.
A tenth defendant – Isaiah Gunter, 24, of Hetchleys, Hemel Hempstead – is due to be sentenced in September 2024.
The court heard how the County Lines drug dealing conspiracy involved the use of children to courier Class A drugs.
The County Line was valued by a drug expert as supplying more than £110,000 worth of drugs in Barrow over a four-month period, with a total weight of Class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) of more than 1kg.
The court heard that a leading role in the conspiracy was played by Jordan Baker.
His role involved sending out bulk advertisement messages to local drug users, preparing large amounts of Class A drugs for onward sale through ‘washing’ cocaine into crack cocaine and breaking down weighted amounts of heroin and crack cocaine into deal-ready wraps and co-ordinating the other members of the conspiracy.
Detective Constable Graeme Benson of Cumbria Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, said: “This was a complex and far-reaching conspiracy which involved the exploitation of children in order to further exploit local drug addicts primarily in the Barrow area.
“The sentences handed down are significant.
“These convictions resulted from diligent street-level work from officers on the ground and a professional and thorough investigation from detectives.
“In Cumbria we will continue to work closely with our partner police forces to target those who believe they can bring dangerous Class A drugs into our communities.
“We continue to urge the public to report any suspicions of drug dealing activity in their area. That one piece of intelligence could be the catalyst that results in our locking up of more predatory drug suppliers.”
