Gateshead drug gang jailed

Eight men have been convicted of supplying Class A drugs across after being arrested as part of a major operation.

Police launched the investigation last year after the number of drugs deaths in Gateshead tripled between 2017 and 2018.

Plain-clothed officers spent hundreds of hours carrying out surveillance of suspects they believed to be supplying drugs to vulnerable users.

The covert investigation also saw officers purchasing drugs off a number of dealers operating across the borough.

More than 60 suspects were arrested as the Operation Salvator detectives raided 37 addresses, seizing drugs, cash and weapons.

A handful of dealers have already been jailed for their roles in supplying heroin and cocaine across the borough but now the first organised gang has been convicted in court.

Earlier this year the eight men identified as being part of the gang admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Newcastle Crown Court.

On Monday and Tuesday six of those dealers were back before the court where they were jailed for a total of 18 years and nine months.

Superintendent Brad Howe said the convictions followed more than a year of hard work.

He said: “This is the first conviction of an organised crime gang identified in the Operation Salvator investigation and I am delighted with the result.

“We launched this operation because of a very concerning increase in drug-related deaths and ultimately our goal was to safeguard vulnerable people in Gateshead.

“There have been a handful of convictions already but this is the first gang convicted as part of the investigation and they now face a lengthy spell behind bars.

“Those involved had no concern for the welfare of those vulnerable drug users trapped in a cycle of addiction and were motivated only by financial greed.

“The fact they have now been jailed is a testament to almost two years of hard work by the investigative team who put these men before the courts."

“I hope that these sentences send a strong message to organised criminals who choose to come into our towns and cities to supply illegal drugs.

“We will identify who you are, put a stop to your illegal activity and make sure you are taken off the streets and put behind bars.”

Six men appeared at Newcastle Crown Court across Monday and Tuesday where they were sentenced as follows:

• Michael Hewitt, 23, of Duncan Street, Gateshead, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and two counts of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug. He appeared at court on Monday and was sentenced to five years and nine months imprisonment.

• Christopher Power, 32, of Windsor Road, Gateshead, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and one count of supplying a Class B drug. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment on Monday.

• Stephen Burton, 27, of St Cuthbert's Drive, Felling, admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug. He appeared at court on Monday and was sentenced two years imprisonment.

• Gary Robinson, 29, of Lumley Gardens, Gateshead, admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug. On Monday he was handed a 20 month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.

• Benjamin Skee, 27, of Celadine Way, Gateshead, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply MDMA, dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment on Tuesday.

• Michael Graham, 32, of Pontop View, Highfield, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment on Tuesday.

Nathan Graham, 30, of Wardle Gardens, Felling, and Dean Joicey, 32, of Devon Crescent, Birtley, have also both admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Graham also admitted possession of criminal property.

They will attend Newcastle Crown Court in September for a hearing that will determine how significant a role they played in the conspiracy.