Drugs which formed part of a massive drug supply network across Nottinghamshire were kept in plastic tubs inside a safes. It was just one example of just how careful the network would be to try and cover their tracks from law enforcement.
However, the gang's illicit activities were smashed wide open as police made arrests across the county and recovered drugs, before bringing the culprits to justice before the courts. As well as drugs kept in safes, police also discovered one individual used an astonishing 36 different telephone numbers during the conspiracy.
The end of the empire brought down three drugs lines supplying heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis within Nottinghamshire. The criminal network was involved in the supply of controlled drugs through three distinct mobile phone lines, known as ‘drug lines’, - which were used to take orders and sell drugs. The conspiracy to supply illegal Class A and B drugs was active between January 2021 and March 2022.
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Who was sentenced?
Patrick Power, 23, handled the storage and movement of drugs. He was arrested at his home, in Langton Close, Colwick, after officers executed a search warrant as part of a Nottinghamshire Police investigation into the theft of high-value vehicles.
Quantities of cocaine and cash were recovered during the raid, carried out on October 8, 2021, and mobile phone call data linked him to the wider drug supply operation.
Defendant AJ Davidson, 25, of HMP Ranby, was responsible for the day-to-day running of one of the drug lines, conducting sales which included preparation of deals and delivering the product to customers. He held a drugs line facilitating the supply of cannabis and operated a second drugs line, selling cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin.
He was arrested after police stopped a car at East Point Retail Park in Nottingham on 30 August 2021. A strong smell of cannabis emanated from the vehicle and bags containing the Class B drug were found inside along with burner-type phones. When officers searched an address in Sneinton, linked to Davidson, they found the tubs containing Class A drugs which had been kept in safes.
Jessica Bayley, aged 23, of Millers Green, Sneinton, helped Davidson with the preparation and delivery of controlled drugs. Other senior players, responsible for managing the drugs conspiracy operation, were brothers Dane and Dylan Broadley.
Dane Broadley, 28, of HMP Nottingham, was found to have used 36 different telephone numbers during the conspiracy period. Dylan Broadley, 26, also of HMP Nottingham, was arrested after police executed a warrant at an address in Coningswath Road, Carlton. Examination of a mobile phone revealed messages relating to Class B drugs.
Zoe Opie, 28, and Jamie Ross, 27, both of Meadow Cottages, Netherfield, were responsible for the day-to-day running of one of the drugs lines facilitating the supply of cannabis. This involved conducting the sale of controlled drugs to customers of the line, including preparing deals and delivering the product to customers.
Patrick Power, AJ Davidson, and Jessica Bayley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs. Power, who also admitted a charge of handling stolen goods, was jailed for four years when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Friday (21 April 2023).
Davidson was locked up for two-and-a-half years; Bayley was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for 18 months. Dane Broadley, Dylan Broadley, Zoe Opie, and Jamie Ross pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
Dane Broadley was handed a three-and-a-half year sentence, Dylan Broadley received three years, Opie was given a two-year community order and Ross was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.
EMSOU Detective Inspector Mark Adas said: “As a result of our detailed investigation we managed to dismantle this organised crime group and cut off three drugs lines supplying heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis within Nottinghamshire".
The theft of high-value vehicles
Other members of the organised crime group were involved in the theft of high value vehicles, with this criminality being unveiled during the course of the drug supply operation. They used signal jammers to prevent people from locking their vehicles and then used other devices to override security protocols allowing them to start up and steal the vehicles.
Mark Bentley, aged 40, of Woodfield Road, Broxtowe Estate, Simon Masey, formerly of Burns Lane, Warsop, Lee Southall, aged 37, of HMP Nottingham, and Simon Bradshaw, aged 43, also of HMP Nottingham, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal motor vehicles.
Bradshaw was given a two-and-a-half year sentence. Masey received 18 months and Bentley and Southall received 15 months each. All three were released due to time already served.
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