Drugs Gang Sentenced To Nearly 50 Years

5 September 2012, 17:11 | Updated: 5 September 2012, 17:15

Seven people from suffolk and norfolk have been sentenced in a major drugs case.

Eleven people have today, Wednesday 5 September been sentenced to over 48 years imprisonment combined after pleading guilty to a range of offences relating to the supply of Class A Drugs following 16 police raids in Suffolk, Merseyside and Norfolk.

Suffolk Police led a joint operation into the passage of drugs into the county, which culminated in searches being carried out across the three counties on Tuesday 7 June 2011. Officers seized quantities of Class A drugs (cocaine), mixing agent, cash, industrial sized presses as well as other items linked into the distribution of controlled drugs.

Today eight men and three women were sentenced after pleading guilty to a range of drug related offences at a hearing in July at Ipswich Crown Court. They were given the following sentences:

Johnathan McKenna a 26-year-old of Norwich Road, Norwich received ten years eight months.

Steven Jackson a 45-year-old of Old Nelson Street, Lowestoft received ten years imprisonment.

Michael Kynaston a 30-year-old of Edgerton Road, Lowestoft received eight years imprisonment.

Stephen Palmer a 45-year-old of Denmark Road, Lowestoft received five years imprisonment.

Laurence Neve a 50-year-old man of Kirkley Cliff Road, Lowestoft received four years and two months imprisonment.

Andrew Roberts a 30-year-old of Keats Avenue, Wigan received four years and four months.

Wesley Gale a 27-year-old of Gidlow Lane, Wigan received four years and four months.

Henry Bacon a 26-year-old man of Woodlands Way, Ipswich received two years imprisonment.

Caroline Murphy a 22-year-old of Liverpool received a 12-month suspended sentence and 240 hours community service.

Marie Darwin a 50-year-old Melverley Road, Liverpool received a 30-week suspended sentence.

Yvonne Horsley a 44-year-old of Old Nelson Street, Lowestoft received an eight month suspended sentence and 80 hours of community service.

Detective Inspector Bernie Morgan, who led the operation, said: “This result follows a long and detailed investigation into the passage of drugs into the county and their subsequent distribution once here. I would like to thank Merseyside and Norfolk Constabularies for their support and to pay particular credit to my officers who put a great deal of work into gaining this result.

 “Suffolk Constabulary is committed to tackling organised crime and will continue to actively pursue anyone who thinks that they can bring drugs into the county.”