A sophisticated crime ring trafficking "industrial quantities" of Class A drugs between Merseyside and Durham was taken down - but its cage fighter ringleader remains at large.
The organised crime group, based in Durham but supplied by Merseyside gangsters Ricky Hemmings and John Campbell, flooded the North-East with cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis. The conspiracy was orchestrated, say police, by ex cage fighter Darren Towler who skipped bail and remains on the run.
Durham Constabulary launched a covert operation back in 2017, which identified 10 trips between Merseyside and County Durham in a five month period. The gang used burner phones and encrypted devices to organise distribution and the transporting of drugs and cash across the country.
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One vehicle, intercepted in Barnard Castle, was found to contain £100,000 in cash in two shoeboxes disguised as birthday presents with wrapping paper.
Last week, 11 people appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced for their role in the conspiracy. Hemmings, 40, originally from Kirkby and Campbell, 48, also from Kirkby admitted conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs. Hemmings was jailed for 12 years and six months while Campbell received a six year and eight-month jail sentence.
Towler, of Rutherford Street, Newcastle, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and amphetamine but admitted the same charge for cannabis. The 41-year-old failed to appear at court, but was sentenced to 24 years in his absence.
His half-brother, Jonathan Kitson, of Riding Hill, Great Lumley, pleaded guilty during his trial to charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and a separate charge involving cannabis. The 28-year-old was jailed for nine years and 11 months.
Jodie Smith, of Main Street, Consett - the former partner of Towler - pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. The 42-year-old was jailed for six years and six months.
Towler's sister, Anita Towler, 43, of Second Street, Consett, pleaded guilty to the same charge, as did 38-year-old Steven Ruddick, of Pasture Row, near Bishop Auckland. The pair will be sentenced next month.
Other members of the conspiracy included Craig Field, 40, of Lincoln Place, Consett, who was jailed for five years and seven months after admitting supplying cocaine; Daniel Mappin, 29, of Front Street, Tudhoe, who was jailed for five years and four months for being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin; and Aaron Merritt, 29, of Hallgarth, Consett, who was jailed for 29 months.
John Huscroft, of Thornhill Gardens, Burnopfield, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply. The 45-year-old was handed a 22-month prison sentence, suspended for two months.
Detective Superintendent Nicola Lawrence, who led the investigation, said: “This was an incredibly complex and challenging investigation, and it is thanks to the hard work and dedication and professionalism of our investigators that we have achieved this outcome at court.
“I hope this result sends out a clear message that we will not tolerate criminality of this nature in our force area, and we will take action to dismantle, disrupt, and destroy these criminal networks."
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