FOUR members of a "professional" crime gang that brought cocaine worth more than £210,000 to York have been given jail sentences totalling more than 21 years.
Ringleader Richard Malcolm Littlechild, 29, was jailed for nine and a half years and others were jailed for three years, four years and five years and four months.
Littlechild was caught climbing out of the bedroom window of a Foxwood safe house where the gang had two stun guns, nearly £10,000 cash, a large stash of high-purity drugs, a processing chemical and other equipment, York Crown Court heard on Thursday.
If it were cut with the processing chemical and sold, the drugs would have fetched £190,000 on the streets, said Mark Styles, prosecuting.
The four men were sentenced today at York Crown Court
Both Littlechild and his chief lieutenant Dylan Bell, 20, continued their crimes, despite being released on bail following their arrests at the Foxwood house on June 12, 2014.
On July 30, police shadowed both men together with courier Ben Ives when they visited the Thomas Cook store in Monks Cross to plan a trip to Majorca, before Bell supervised Ives on his first drugs run to and from Leeds.
Officers stopped Ives on his return on the A1237 near York and found half a kilo of very low purity cocaine in his car.
The gang brought more than £210,000 of cocaine into York (stock picture)
The same day, police found half a kilo of low quality cocaine hidden at a Tang Hall house frequented by Littlewood, where children and an elderly man live. It would have fetched up to £25,000 on the streets.
Judge Neil Clark told four members of the gang: " You were part of an organised crime group. This was significant and professional crime."
Det Con Adam Heatlie, officer in the case, said: "The sentences imposed today reflect the seriousness of this case.
"I hope that they act as a deterrent to others who believe that peddling of drugs in North Yorkshire is acceptable.
"The residents and communities deserve better. North Yorkshire Police will continue to support them."
Clockwise from top-left: Littlechild, Bell, Pullman and Ives
The offences and sentences:
- Richard Littlechild, 29, of Cromer Street in Clifton, York - admitted two conspiracies to supply drugs. Jailed for nine and a half years.
- Dylan Bell, 20, of Burnholme Avenue in Tang Hall, York - admitted two conspiracies to supply drugs. Jailed for five years and four months.
- Liam Pullman, 20, of Bellhouse Way in Foxwood, York - admitted one conspiracy. Jailed for four years.
- Ben Ives, 19, of Wetherby Road in Tadcaster - admitted one conspiracy. Jailed for three years.
Jailing Pullman and Ives, the judge said: "Anybody who involves themselves in the supply of Class A drugs, particularly involving themselves in the professional supply of drugs has to face a custodial sentence."
Defence barrister Michael Greenhalgh said Littlechild was not a street dealer and had needed money to pay drug debts. He had a legitimate business buying and selling cars. He was contrite.
Ives was a young man who had fallen in with the wrong crowd and acted out of character, the court was told.
For Bell, Chris Dunn said he had been pressurised into getting involved and his debts had been increased by the Foxwood drugs seizure.
For Pullman, Nick Worsley said he was a naive man who had shown since his arrest he could work hard legitimately.
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