Eight suspects accused of being part of a crime group that controlled Class A drug supply on a city region estate have appeared in court to enter their pleas with most denying the allegations put to them.
They were arrested as part of a Cheshire Police operation focusing on the Murdishaw estate in Runcorn in December, with warrants also carried out in Widnes and Liverpool, supported by Merseyside colleagues. At Chester Crown Court on Thursday, January 12, most entered "not guilty" pleas to the charges.
Samantha Bushell, 36, of Mooring Close, Runcorn, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiring to supply a Class A drug, namely cocaine and heroin. Bushell was remanded in custody to await sentence at the conclusion of trial for the other defendants.
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Darren Garbe, 22, of Fenton Green, Speke, pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiring to supply Class A drugs, namely cocaine and heroin, and was remanded in custody for trial at Chester. Proceedings are due to start in the week commencing June 5.
David Keegan, 51, of Nortonwood Lane, Runcorn, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to supply Class A drugs, cocaine and heroin. Keegan was granted conditional bail with curfew to await trial.
Anthony Pike, 52, of Hitchens Close, Runcorn, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin, and was released on conditional bail with electronic curfew to await trial.
Zackarey Rizzotti, 20, of St Andrew Road, Anfield, pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiring to supply Class A drugs and one count of possession with intent to supply cocaine, and was remanded in custody to await trial.
Scott Doran, 34, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession Class B cannabis and not guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine and heroin. Doran was remanded in custody to await trial.
Stephen Redmond, 21, of Talisman Close, Runcorn, pleaded guilty to possessing Class A heroin with intent to supply, simple possession Class B cannabis, two counts of possessing cannabis with intent to supply, simple possession Class A drug MDMA - also known as ecstasy, simple possession Class A cocaine, and not guilty to one count of simple possession cannabis and not guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs cocaine and heroin. Redmond was remanded in custody for the trial.
Marcus Pike, 21, of no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiring to supply heroin and cocaine, and was remanded in custody for trial in June.
The trial is estimated to last six weeks.
Proceeding.
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