A VIOLENT gang of drug dealers who used shotguns to threaten and intimidate rivals and enemies are behind bars.
Cleveland Police arrested six members of the organised crime gang who brought misery to the streets of Teesside.
Scott Mizsei used a pump action shotgun to target the homes of three people before going on the run.
While four of his co-accused were involved in a 'mob-handed' attack on another man in violent retribution for an asault on one of their mothers.
On Friday they were jailed for their roles in the orgy of violence and drug dealing across Middlesbrough, Stockton and Thornaby.
Welcoming the sentences, Detective Chief Inspector Wendy Tinkler, of Cleveland Police, said: “This sentencing result should be a reminder to all such offenders that we will not stop in our pursuit of you, your organisation and assets and will do everything we can to make our communities safer.
“The creation of a dedicated investigation team and the joint working with CPS to tackle this organised crime group has ensured they have been disrupted, arrested and convicted and has safeguarded the communities in Cleveland.”
Judge Timothy Stead branded 34-year-old Mizsei a ‘dangerous offender’ as he sentenced him to a total of 22 years in custody with three years on extended licence after he was found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and three charges of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Mizsei, of Lime Trees Close, Port Clarence, Middlesbrough, was the leader of the drugs gang.
Chris Atkinson, Head of the Crown Court Unit at CPS North East, said: “While the drug-dealing activities of this gang will have damaged the local community, their brandishing and firing of guns also created an atmosphere of heightened fear amongst local residents.
“This a significant prosecution, which has been made possible through strong partnership working between the Crown Prosecution Service and Cleveland Police. As a result of an excellent investigation on the part of our police partners, we were provided with a significant file of evidence against those involved.
“For our part, the Crown Prosecution Service has meticulously pieced together multiple phone records, CCTV, cell site analysis and other data to build to build a comprehensive case that clearly demonstrated the involvement of each of those sentenced today.
“We sincerely hope that the sentences passed on this gang will reassure the community that the use of firearms will never be tolerated, and we will continue to work closely with our police partners to swiftly remove such threats from the communities we serve.”
Sidney Bashford, Oliver Connelly, Kyle Hamilton and Cory Mosley, were among a gang of people who turned up mobhanded at the address in a car and on a quad bike for the ‘revenge attack’ with a display of force with three people going towards the property.
Bashford, 25, of Raydale, Hemlington, was sentenced to four years for conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear or alarm after pleading guilty.
Connelly, 24, of Eastcroft Road, Middlesbrough, was jailed for four years for the same offence and a further six months for a drugs offence after pleading guilty to both charges.
Hamilton, 24, of Limetrees Close, Middlesbrough, was sentenced to six years after being found guilty of the same weapons charge.
And 19-year-old Mosley, of Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, was sentenced to a total of six years and six months for the weapons charge and unlawful wounding.
The final defendant was a grandmother who was jailed for three years for her role in a conspiracy to supply cocaine after being found guilty at trial.
Diane Brown, of Longbeck Way, Thornaby, allowed her house to be used as a ‘warehouse’ to store and prepare drug deals in July last year.
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