Drugs plot gang locked up as police pledge 'no hiding place' for organised crime cartels

County Durham lynchpin Timothy Lister was locked up for 16 years for directing the illegal "industrial scale" operation.

The gang - with members from County Durham, Tyneside, Leeds, and the north-west - were jailed for a total of almost 60 years.

Delighted detectives warned organised crime cartels: "There is no hiding place . . . nobody is beyond the reach of the law."

Some of those involved in the conspiracy now face having their assets stripped as part of Proceeds of Crime Act legislation.

Judge Howard Crowson praised the dedicated detective work which brought to an end "a significant drugs organisation whose actions would otherwise have continue to blight the local area".

Detective Sergeant Nicola Lawrence, Detective Constables Mark Eglington and Jacqueline Jones, and intelligence analyst Lorna Hutchins were given commendations.

The judge said of the gang: "They were undone by good police work, and it is right that I should express my gratitude on behalf of the community."

The multi-million pound plot involved the transportation of cocaine and cannabis from other areas to the North-East, prosecutor Adrian Strong told Teesside Crown a Court Mr Strong said Lister was at the head of the organised crime group in County Durham, and directed lieutenants Alan Taylor and Sam Turnbull, both from Houghton-le-Spring.

One of those involved in the cross-Pennines conspiracy in was Gary Kays, 31, who was jailed in 2008 for his part in the killing of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones.

Det Sgt Nicola Lawrence said after the case: “This vindicates the enormous amount of work which went into this operation, which took almost twelve months to plan and then put into place.

"These men were part of an organised criminal gang who operated across the North-East and the north west.

“Four years ago we launched Sledgehammer, a continuing commitment to tackling organised crime in our area.

"Since then scores of criminals who considered themselves beyond the reach of law have been arrested, charged and convicted.

"Anyone tempted to engage in a criminal lifestyle should be aware we will target them ruthlessly and put them out of business.”

Judge Crowson said Lister was "close to importation" because of the high purity of the cocaine he was dealing - around 90 per cent, compared to street drugs at somewhere between 12 and 22 per cent.

"You were clearly in a leading role as this was buying and selling on a commercial scale," said the judge.

"You had substantial links to and influence over others in the same chain, some of whom only made your acquaintance during your sentence for your previous involvement with drug trafficking."

Turnbull, from Houghton-le-Spring, got the next biggest sentence - 11 years and two months for conspiring to supply cocaine as well as cannabis.

Investigations showed that the 36-year-old placed bets totalling £1.23m in just three years as he tried to launder the money he made from crime.

Four others involved in the drugs conspiracy have been dealt with by different courts, and have received a total of 19 years and six months.

OFFICERS involved in Operation Skyhawk were praised by the judge after nine men were jailed for a total of more than 60 years.

Judge Howard Crowson said despite the crooks using "many methods to frustrate their detection" they were foiled.

At Teesside Crown Court today, the judge paid public tribute, and said: "Ultimately, they were undone by good police work."

He added: "I express my gratitude on behalf of the community for the dedication of the officers, whom we all know work with the same limits to their resources as any other public organisation, but yet apply hard work and professionalism to overcome the difficulties that those constraints impose upon them.

"By those efforts in this case, they have close down a significant drugs organisation whose actions would otherwise have continued to blight both the local area and those areas around the country supplied Class A drugs by this group."

Detective Sergeant Nicola Lawrence, Detective Constables Mark Eglington and Jacqueline Jones, and intelligence analyst Lorna Hutchins were those praised by the judge.

He said: "It is right I should express my gratitude on behalf of the community.

"They closed down a significant drugs organisation whose activities would have continued to blight the area."

"The exposure of this organisation was only possible with diligent and careful police work."

THE GANG MEMBERS

TIMOTHY LISTER
At the head of the Durham organised crime group, the 40-year-old was described by police as "the director of operations".
During a trial in June, Lister - twice before convicted for involvement in drugs - portrayed himself as a man of limited means.
Judge Howard Crowson told Lister that he used his business and his parents' home as cover for his illegal activities.
"Although you cultivated an impression of a man running a legitimate waste management business, I am satisfied you were the leader of this substantial drugs trafficking organisation in Durham," the judge said.
Lister, of Delves Terrace, Consett, was jailed for 16 years after he was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

SAM TURNBULL
One of two of Lister's "trusted" lieutenants, Turnbull also has a previous conviction for drugs.
The 36-year-old was jailed for three years in 2005 for possession with intent to supply cocaine.
The judge said Turnbull had used his time behind bars on remand "in a productive way" and references "paint a better picture of you".
As well as being involved in the cocaine plot, Turnbull had links to criminals in Derby and was buying cannabis in bulk to pass on in the North-East.
Turnbull, of Langdale Street, Houghton-le-Spring, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, and was locked up for 11 years and two months.

ALAN TAYLOR
Taylor was the other right-hand man who Lister used to distance himself from the deals that took place.
He had never before been convicted of any drugs offences, and the last time he was jailed was more than a decade ago.
The 42-year-old was described by the judge as "a trusted second in the enterprise" and it was said he had "at least a significant role".
Taylor was also involved in the cannabis trafficking, and his car was used by Turnbull on at least two occasions to bring it from the East Midlands.
Taylor, also known as Crawford, of Cedar Terrace, Houghton-le-Spring, was jailed for nine years and nine months after he admitted conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs.

STEPHEN GOLDING
Golding was a main player in the north-west group, and had direct contact with Lister, said prosecutor Adrain Strong.
The court heard that he used fellow Liverpudlian Gary Kays for "protection" as a "close second" in his dealings.
Golding was arrested after two others were stopped in a van with 2kg of cocaine at a purity of at least 72 per cent - an investment of around £100,000.
Judge Crowson said the drugs would have "reaped large rewards on distribution" and told the 33-year-old: "No novice is ever found fulfilling the role you took."
Golding, of Isabel Grove, Liverpool, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and was jailed for give-and-a-half years.

IAN McCABE
The 43-year-old was arrested after a 100mph police chase on the A181 between Peterlee and Sherburn Village, County Durham, in September 2012.
Inside the Vauxhall Insignia was almost a kilo of cocaine at more than 90 per cent purity, which - after being 'cut' with bulking agents - could have been sold for £300,000.
Judge Crowson said McCabe's account that he was not in direct contact with Turnbull was "frankly incredible", and added: "You gave evidence which I did not believe."
The judge said there was "overwhelming evidence" to show he was "a man in whom a degree of trust was placed", and described McCabe's driving as "appalling".
McCabe, of South End, High Pittington, was jailed for five years and four months after he admitted possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and dangerous driving.

GARY KAYS
Judge Crowson rejected claims that Kays was little more than a person delegated to ensure money was available, and described his role in the north-west as "vital".
Kays was on licence for his involvement in the murder of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones when he got involved in the drugs conspiracy, the court heard.
The 31-year-old thug was returned to prison after his arrest in February last year as part of Operation Skyhawk, which was run by Durham Police.
Kays, of Cambria Street, Liverpool, was given three years and five months yesterday after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

DAVID LEWINS
His car was stopped on the A1 as it returned to the North-East from Derby with 23.9kg of cannabis. The driver was co-accused David Halliday.
The judge said Lewins' "only motivation was financial" and told the court that the 40-year-old had acted at the direction of others higher up the chain.
He was convicted after a trial, and was in breach of a suspended jail sentence for a drugs offence when he was arrested in November 2012.
Lewins, of The Avenue, Houghton-le-Spring, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, and was jailed for two years.
Judge Crowson described him as "a model prisoner" while on remand, and said: "You pose a low risk of further offending."

DAVID HALLIDAY
A courier for the cannabis transportation from the east Midlands, Halliday was said to have carried out his role "at the directions of others".
He was given a suspended prison sentence, but was warned by the judge that he will be locked up if he breaches its requirements, or gets into more trouble.
A man of essentially good character, single-dad Halliday was spared immediate prison because of "precarious" care issues surrounding his son.
Halliday, of Seventh Avenue, Chester-le-Street, admitted possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply, and was given a ten-month jail term, suspended for a year, with supervision. 

RICHARD BROWN
Brown was a courier between the North-East and Yorkshire, and made at least four trips before being stopped by police with £46,000 - the cost of one kilo of high-purity cocaine.
Judge Crowson said: "I am satisfied that it is reasonable to infer that you carried similar sums of money on each occasion, assisting in that way to perpetuate this trade, even if you consider yourself at arms length from it."
The judge said Brown's involvement was "under direction, but for reward", and added: "It is significant that your contact in this area was with the very top of the organisation."
Brown, 47, of Bowland Close, Leeds, was jailed for two years after he was found guilty after a trial of possessing criminal property.

CHRISTOPHER YOUNG
He met Lister in prison while he was serving a sentence for drugs offences, the court was told.
On one day in November 2012, Young was caught with £42,875 - which police say was to buy a kilo of cocaine.
The 35-year-old was said by the judge to have "many positive features in your life" which meant he was not recalled by the authorities for breaching the conditions of his release from prison after a substantial term imposed in 2007.
Young, of Morley Avenue, Fallowfield, Manchester, was found guilty of possessing criminal property, and was jailed for one year and eight months.

MICHAEL HUDSON
Another cash courier, Hudson was pulled over on the cross-Pennines M62 motorway with £28,820 in his car - money for a half-kilo of cocaine.
He was spared prison because of his good character and the delay in the case - while others sought a trial, which was twice aborted last year, and finally concluded in June.
The judge told the 30-year-old: "You should be given the opportunity of proving that you can return to a productive and honest life."
Hudson, of Redgrave Close, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to possessing criminal property, which the judge said he should have known was suspect.
He was given a ten-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, with 150 hours of unpaid community work.

PETER O'NEILL
Police searched his home in County Durham after suspecting he had links to the drugs gang led by Lister - notably as an associate of Turnbull.
Mr Strong told the court that officers found amphetamine and cutting agents at the house during the raid last year.
O'Neill - a regular user of the Class B powder - is not thought to be a part of the "industrial scale" plot that the undercover operation was set up to smash.
The 55-year-old was said by the judge to have had a "low-level" role, and was spared custody because of his "concerns about your ability to cope in prison".
O'Neill, of Woodland View, West Rainton, admitted possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, and was given a 12-month community order.