The ringleader of a drugs gang returned to Liverpool with thousands of pounds in cash after ferrying drugs into Northamptonshire.
Paul Campbell, 43, of Tom Mann Close, Liverpool, made at least 28 trips to the East Midlands county with his associates James Connor, 35, and Wayne Toner, 51, both from Wapshare Road in Norris Green, delivering packages of cocaine and amphetamine.
They were among ten men involved in the major drug supply network that bought and sold Class A and B drugs with an estimated street value of £885,500. The gang ferried the drugs from Merseyside into Kettering, Corby and Northampton over a period of at least 24 months, between August 2019 and August 2021.
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Detectives found repeat meetings with 47-year-old Gilbert Stirling in Kettering, and with at least six further wholesale purchasers in Northampton and Corby - John Chapman, 79, Stephen Davidson, 32, Conor Sherwood, 28, Daryl Marshall, 35, David Madden, 46, and Arron Vidler, 24.
On September 29 and October 1, 2021, a number of warrants were carried out in connection with the investigation, resulting in the arrest and charge of the ten on a range of drugs-related offences.
All of the men went on to enter guilty pleas during subsequent court hearings, with Toner, Vidler, Madden, and Chapman all pleading guilty at the outset of their trial on May 2 and 3.
At Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday, May 30, nine of the group were sentenced to a total of 61 years and eight months in prison, with ringleader Paul Campbell receiving a total sentence of 12 years and nine months.
John Chapman, 79, of High Street, Upton, Northampton, failed to appear at court for sentencing and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Chapman has previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and possession of Class B with intent to supply, and will be sentenced at a later date.
Sentencing, Judge David Herbert said: “Campbell is the principal member of the defendant group. He occasionally came to Northamptonshire to oversee ‘business’ and he would have been the person out of all these men who would have profited the most.”
Speaking afterwards, investigator Hazel Score, from EMSOU ROCU, said: “This sentencing result represents a huge amount of painstaking, tireless work by our team, who gathered detailed and compelling evidence which gave these ten defendants no choice but to enter guilty pleas.
“A substantial amount of illegal drugs were bought and sold by these individuals, with a conservative estimated street value of £885,500 which illustrates the large-scale nature of the dealing involved.
“Paul Campbell in particular was shown to be in contact with every single person in this case, and no doubt many others elsewhere, so in breaking up this network of criminals we’re confident we’ve removed a major source of Class A and Class B drugs in Northamptonshire and beyond.”
Detective Inspector Darren Brown, also of EMSOU ROCU, added: “I’m really pleased that the sentences imposed reflect the severity of the offending, and also the dedication and attention to detail our team put into this case. Rest assured, if you’re involved in the supply of illegal drugs in our region, sooner or later we will catch up with you and it will be your turn to face justice too.”
If you have information about suspected drug dealing, please report it by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency. Information can also be shared anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
The full list of charges and sentences are as follows:
- Gilbert Stirling, aged 47, of Eastbrook, Corby. Pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, namely amphetamine, sentenced to four years and 10 months.
- Stephen Davidson, aged 32, of Helmsley Way, Corby. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, and supply of Class A drugs, sentenced to a total of six years and nine months.
- Conor Sherwood, aged 28, of Nithsdale Avenue, Market Harborough, formerly of Corby. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, sentenced to four years. Sherwood was also sentenced to a further 12 months (to be served consecutively) after admitting one count of controlling or coercive behaviour relating to incidents in Corby in July 2022. He was also given a 10-year restraining order.
- Darryl Marshall, also known as Daryl Alcorn, aged 35, of Bideford Square, Corby. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, sentenced to a total of six years.
- Arron Vidler, aged 24, of Westfields Road, Corby. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, sentenced to a total of five years and six months.
- David Madden, aged 46, of Beanfield Avenue, Corby. Pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, sentenced to a total of six years.
- Paul Campbell, aged 43, of Tom Mann Close, Liverpool. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, sentenced a total of 12 years and nine months.
- James Connor, aged 35, of Wapshare Road, Liverpool. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, sentenced to a total of eight years and seven months.
- Wayne Toner, aged 51, of Wapshare Road, Norris Green. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, sentenced to a total of six years and three months.
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