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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Adam Maidment

‘Show em bro…Show them what you’ve got’: Brazen drug dealers caught on camera showing off AXE tucked in trousers

Two drug dealers were caught on camera making gun gestures and posing with an axe.

In the video footage, Mark Ingle, 45, and Antony Cragg, 32, both of Longshaw Street in Warrington, were seen posing in a park during the middle of the day.

The pair have been jailed for their involvement in a county line gang that transported drugs from Salford into Warrington

Both men were yesterday (March 10) jailed for their involvement in the ‘Long Haired Luke’ line which brought around 3.5kg of class A drugs onto the streets of Warrington.

READ MORE: ‘Long Haired Luke’ gang who promised the ‘fattest and best stuff’ foiled by receding hairlines and 'repeated trips to buy chickens'

Ingle was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison while Cragg was handed three years and seven months.

Alex Brady, 21, of Lightoaks Road in Salford, who was given four years and eight months for his involvement in the gang, was seen introducing the video before turning the camera to the pair.

Introducing Ingle and Cragg, Brady says: "Trapping, active, the f***ing mandem.

“Yes, the fellas."

Brady then tells Ingle to "show em… show them what you’ve got".

In a grey tracksuit, Ingle proceeds to reveal the axe from within his trousers as all three men laugh.

At the same time, Cragg makes gun and peace gestures with his hand towards the camera.

The video was released by Cheshire Constabulary following the sentencing of 14 individuals for their involvement in the Longhaired Luke gang.

Cheshire Constabulary’s Operation Spartans - a crackdown on organised crime groups in the area - found the gang had been using burner phones and safehouses to transport drugs from Salford into Warrington.

During the course of 178 days between January and July 2021, more than 16,094 flare text messages - issued to multiple numbers at one time - had been sent to known drug users.

The gang is believed to have been responsible for supplying between 1.7kg and 3.5kg of class A drugs.

More defendants are due to be sentenced at a later date.

Following the sentencing, Senior Crown Prosecutor Nicola Wyn Williams said: "Operation Spartans was one of the largest undercover drugs operations ever dealt with by Cheshire Police.

Alex Brady, aged 21, of Lightoaks Road in Salford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin. (Cheshire Constabulary)

"CPS worked with the police from an early stage to review the evidence ahead of the arrest of over 40 suspects.

"Of those arrested, decisions were made to charge 40 defendants.

"For all 40 to eventually admit their involvement by their guilty pleas was a huge achievement and a testament to the work done by the prosecution team to build such a strong case."

Read more on courts: Triple killer found guilty of raping pregnant murder victim faces life behind bars

Read more on Salford: Lying doctor struck off after forging letters refused in bid to be allowed back to work

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