AN organised criminal gang operated a high-security "24-7 drugs shop" in Derby – selling thousands of pounds of heroin and crack cocaine.
The "business director", David Stewart, known as Wolverhampton Yankee, has been convicted of conspiracy to supply the drugs between January and September of last year, along with nine other men and five women.
Adrian Langdale, prosecuting, told Nottingham Crown Court that the case involved the "retail of a large amounts of drugs" to people in Derby through a "well-organised and sophisticated operation".
He said a conservative estimate of the combined amount of crack cocaine and heroin sold by the gang during the nine months was 5kg. But Stewart's lawyer, Pavlos Panayi QC, said this value was an overestimate and close to "pure guesswork".
Stewart, a man of "large stature" being 6ft 6in tall and weighing 25st and described as intimidating, "tightly controlled the gang", said Mr Langdale. "We put him very much at the head and heart of the operation.
"He ultimately controlled the other defendants. He used violence to control this operation."
He added that Stewart had criminal links to the West Midlands and Scotland.
Mr Langdale said Stewart obtained premises by selecting drug-addict customers and would then "bully his way into the premises and take control".
He would then set up his "drug shop", installing CCTV, which would be monitored by a gang member while others acted as lookouts.
Mr Langdale said: "The addresses would be chosen with considerable care – usually flats with at least two sets of doors before access could be gained and preferably on an upper floor with a direct view over the external front door, so the access could be visually monitored and advance warning given."
The drugs shop moved premises frequently, operating from addresses including St Chad's Road, Grange Street and Drewry Court.
Police carried out surveillance on the different premises and an undercover officer, who "ingratiated himself with a number of drug users", visited the "drugs shop" at its various locations on 22 occasions.
During the course of the nine months, officers carried out raids on "active drug shops" and, despite making various arrests and seizing some heroin and crack cocaine, cash and paraphernalia, at no time did they recover a large amount of drugs.
Mr Langdale said this was because "the security system worked sufficiently well", giving them time to dispose or remove the drugs before officers entered.
Mr Panayi argued that this could actually have been because there were never any "large stocks" inside the premises.
In mitigation, Mr Panayi said: "There's no evidence of high profits and no indications of wealth. He's not someone who was living the high life, driving around in fast cars. He employed a motley crew – prostitutes, drug addicts and others who were his friends." He said Stewart himself was addicted to crack cocaine.
All members of the gang are due to be sentenced today.
THE GANG MEMBERS
The following pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
DAVID STEWART, 41, of no fixed address: ring leader
IMOGEN MELLOR, 25, of Mostyn Avenue, Littleover: second-in-command from January to May.
TROY BROWN, 21, of no fixed address: part of inner circle.
RICKY STEADMAN, 28, of City Road, Derby : part of inner circle.
SIMON WRAY, 47, of Parker Street, Derby: part of inner circle.
NICOLA WARD, 38, of Highfields Park Drive, Derby: high-end significant role
BALDEEP BAINS, 25, of Cannock Court, Derby: significant role between June and September and allowed his address to be used.
SIMON WILSONCROFT, 31, of Ashwood Close, Derby: became part of inner circle between April and September.
JOHN WALKER, 53, of Buckland Close, Derby: predominantly responsible for transportation of gang members and drugs and allowed address to be used.
MICHAEL GEORGE, 33, of Mortimer Street, Allenton: significant role but not part of inner circle.
KIRSTY BRATBY, 24, of Elmtree Avenue, Derby: significant role.
NICOLLETTE ATTENBOROUGH, 26, of Bainbridge Street, Derby: allowed her address to be used.
KELLY THOMPSON, 32, of Appian Way, Alvaston: lesser role.
FRANCIS RENNER, 29, of Siddals Road, Derby: allowed his premises to be used.
ALAN SAUNDERS, 51, of Masson Walk, Derby: part of inner circle. He denied the charges but was found guilty after trial.
