The ringleader of a drugs gang sourced cocaine and cannabis in Liverpool which was then distributed in the south of England.
Jack Richardson was one of a gang of six men arrested over large-scale cocaine and cannabis drug dealing, and was the last to be sentenced for his role in the criminal enterprise. Police first got intelligence back in November 2019 that Richardson, from Epsom, was orchestrating a drug supply network. He sourced the drugs in Liverpool and then circulated them in his home base of Surrey and beyond.
But the 32-year-old did not appear to do the work for himself, instead relying on an organised network of dealers and runners. Surrey Police said he then "spent the spoils of his illegal operation on a lavish lifestyle" including renovations to his high-end home, a collection of cars and a trip to Turkey where he purchased a new hairline and extensive dental work, reports Surrey Live.
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During a lengthy police investigation, some of Richardson's accomplices were arrested. Drug runners Adam Carter and George Summersby were arrested at Warwick services while on their way to a drugs pick-up in Liverpool.
They were found with a kilo of cocaine that had a street value of £100,000. However, Richardson remained the main police target.
Surrey Police investigation teams eventually spotted him handling two carrier bags, later handed over to another man in a suspected drug deal. In return the man gave Richardson a large heavy-looking holdall. After a chase on foot, officers searched Richardson and found two car keys. One of the keys was for a Vauxhall Astra that Richardson had taken the carrier bags from.
When police searched this car, they found £479,650 in cash in the boot and cocaine with a street value of £156,900. The other man taking part in the deal was also tracked down and arrested by Derbyshire Police who found the carrier bags in the car with him containing almost £20,000 and half a kilo of cannabis.
The large holdall the man gave to Richardson was also located, having been thrown out of the window of an Epsom flat linked to another of the drug gang members, Charles Hall. The holdall contained cannabis with a street value of over £45,000.
Hall's DNA was found on the holdall and on expert examination, his phone records strongly suggested that he too was a player in the drug supply network. Finally, Mick Carter who acted as Adam Carter’s "holiday cover" as drugs courier was linked to the operation through his phone messages and was arrested as he went about his day job as a gardener.
All five members of the drugs running gang received prison sentences for the role in the crime network.
- Jack Richardson, 32, of Chessington Road, Epsom pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison.
- George Summersby, 25, of HMP High Down pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was sentenced to seven years and two months in prison.
- Mick Carter, 42 of Wandle Court, West Ewell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was sentenced to five years and four months in prison.
- Adam Carter, 40, of Brooklands Way, Redhill was found guilty of possession with intent to supply class A drugs at a trial at Guildford Crown Court on 24 September 2021 and was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison
- Charles Hall, 32, of Crayke Hill, Chessington pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possession with intent to supply class B drugs and was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison on 29 March 2021 at Guildford Crown Court
Investigating officer Detective Constable Martin O’Neill of Surrey Police's proactive investigation team said: "Richardson ran a coordinated operation, keeping himself well out of the way of the trips up the motorway to Liverpool and instead delegating those to his accomplices. Little did he and his organised crime gang know we were aware of exactly what they were doing.
"Getting to this point took a lot of hard work and a lengthy and painstaking investigation, so to see everyone involved now facing jail time is really pleasing.
"Unfortunately for him, the only people getting to admire Jack Richardson's cosmetic improvements for the next eleven years will be his fellow inmates."
