Members of a gang that trafficked drugs from Merseyside to the Midlands have been jailed for a combined total of 165 years.
Christopher Reeve, 44, was head of the gang and he orchestrated the supply from Liverpool and the Bickerstaffe area in West Lancashire. When he was not available, his partner Sarah Reeve would step in to run the operation.
Meanwhile, Garvey Thompson illegally obtained a phone to control the drug supply line into Warwickshire while he was in prison. There was also evidence to show he had planned for drugs to be delivered into the prison by drone.
READ MORE: Three men arrested after woman died in hospital
Wayne Philpotts organised the distribution of drugs delivered to Nottingham and Neil Brewster in Coventry. A five year police investigation proved Christopher Reeve and Thompson ran the drugs line between October 2017 and September 2018.
Christopher Reeve and Thompson employed couriers – including Thomas Bash, Lewis Mowat and David Burdett – to carry out supply runs across county borders. Officers analysed phone records that showed more than 14,000 communications took place between Reeve and the other defendants. The content of many of these was believed to be planning drug runs across the country.
Officers also managed to link many of these messages to trips made by the defendants which they believe were drug deliveries. The phone analysis and a covert operation helped to piece together all the players in the operation.
Between October 2017 and September 2018 officers executed five warrants at properties in Leamington and Daventry.
On August 3 2018, Sarah Reeve and Mowat set off from Liverpool with 3kg of high-purity cocaine in their car. Officers uncovered CCTV of them stopping for breakfast at McDonald's and passing through the M6 toll road. Police then stopped the car on the A5 near Rugby, seizing the drugs and arresting Sarah Reeve and Mowat.
A seized phone showed Christopher Reeve had orchestrated the delivery and Sarah Reeve and Mowat both had full knowledge of the operation.
On September 12 2018, officers executed a warrant in Sturdee Close, Daventry, Northamptonshire - the home address of Caroline Dalley. During this warrant 877g of heroin, 4.15kg of cocaine, 13kg of amphetamine, 20kg of cannabis resin, 6049 ecstasy tablets, 896g of MDMA and 378g of crack cocaine were seized.
Combined, it had a street value in excess of £830,000. Significant quantities of mixing and bulking agents were also recovered, along with a number of shotgun cartridges.
On September 14, 2018, officers raided a trailer in Wolfhampcote owned by Burdett. They seized drugs, 15 firearms and ammunition. Forensics linked the seizure to David Burdett, Christopher Reeve and Thomas Bash.
Throughout the investigation, officers seized drugs with a street value of £1.3m, £10,000 in cash, as well as 15 firearms and associated ammunition.
A judge estimated the gang transported 60kg of class A drugs during the period investigated. The five year investigation led by Warwickshire Police Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) concluded last week when the final defendant was found not guilty of drug supply offences.
The longest sentence went to Christopher Reeve, who was jailed for 17 years, having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and possession of a firearm.
Detective Sergeant Sarah Wolsey from Warwickshire Police said: “This was a long and complex investigation that has helped to bring down a major drug supply network worth millions of pounds.
“We took out criminals at every level of this sophisticated operation; from the top man, Christopher Reeve, to the runners who were doing his dirty work on the streets.
“The result was thanks to the dedication of everyone involved who worked tirelessly to secure evidence and bring these dangerous offenders to justice. They never lost focus on their role in protecting people from harm and reducing the detrimental impact of drugs and violence in our communities.”
Full list of sentences:
- Christopher Reeve, 44, formerly of Montgomery Drive, Rugby was jailed for 17 years after pleading guilty to the supply of controlled drugs and possession of firearms.
- A man from Leamington was jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply drugs. This is currently subject to appeal.
- Garvey Thompson, 42, of no fixed abode was jailed for 12 years and 10 months after pleading guilty to the supply of controlled drugs.
- Sarah Reeve, 40, previously of Montgomery Drive, Rugby was jailed for 10 years and 10 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs.
- David Burdett, 46, previously of Hood Road, Daventry was jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to possession of firearms and ammunition, and conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Stacie Burdett, 36, previously of Hood Road, Daventry was jailed for 10 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply drugs and possession of firearms.
- Tony Wilshire, 30, previously of Kingsley Road, Leamington was jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to supplying controlled drugs.
- Thomas Bash, 71, previously of Wortley Close, Rugby was jailed for six years and eight months after pleading guilty to supplying controlled drugs and possession of firearms.
- Neil Brewster, 53, formerly of Oak Close, Bedworth was jailed for 12 years and eight months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Wayne Philpotts, 48, formerly of Plantation Side, Nottingham was jailed for 10 years having pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply drugs and conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Oliver Bailey, 31, formerly of Landor Road, Warwick was jailed for nine years and nine months having pleaded guilty to supplying drugs and possession with intent to supply drugs.
- Lewis Mowat, 30, previously of Rugby Road, Leamington was jailed for eight years after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Jason Solomon, 33, previously of Hampstead Road, Birmingham was jailed for eight years after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Caroline Dalley, 56, formerly of Sturdee Close, Daventry was jailed for seven years after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Wayne Constable, 36, of no fixed abode was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs and another more recent drug supply offence.
- Manjinder Jaiya, 27, previously of Rinill Close, Leamington was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Warren Brown, 25, formerly of Mason Avenue, Leamington was jailed for three years and 10 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Alay Kifle, 27, previously of Waterton Way, Leamington was jailed for two years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Dominic Duxbury was jailed for two years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Lee Turner, 34, Grosvenor Road, Rugby was given a two-year jail sentence suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs.
READ NEXT
Woman accused of stabbing man, 24, to death named
Wirral Council leader deposed by her deputy in dramatic coup
Pregnant daughter held her dying dad after he was gunned down outside house
Hearts 'broken forever' after man who 'made everyone laugh' stabbed to death
New Look's £34 'best jumpsuit for summer' that has shoppers 'obsessed'
