Drugs gang members sentenced to more than 100 years in jail

The members of a major drugs gang that operated from the Mansfield and Ashfield areas have been sentenced to a total of more than 100 years in jail.
Ben MullinsBen Mullins
Ben Mullins

Ten members of the gang were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court today for their part in conspiracies in the production of amphetamine, the supply of amphetamine and the supply of cocaine.

Their activities included picking up and dropping off drugs and the ingredients needed to produce them at locations around the country and saw the Protein Masters shop on King Street in Sutton being raided by police.

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Conservative estimates put the amount of amphetamine prepared and cut by the gang at more than 200kg, with the largest seizure by police being 67kg and having an estimated street value of £1.3m.

Craig DonnellyCraig Donnelly
Craig Donnelly

Three kilogrammes of high purity cocaine, worth £600,000, was also recovered during the police investigation.

Sentencing the men, Judge James Sampson told them that they had been involved with ‘pernicious drugs’ which ‘blight’ the lives of those who come into contact with them.

“All of you in various ways and to varying degrees were peddling misery in towns and cities in this country,” he said.

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Judge Sampson said that the group had been led by Anthony Donnelly (31), of Chesterfield Road South, Mansfield, and one rung beneath him was Ben Mullins (33), a former soldier who served his country in Iraq, of Church Street, Ripley.

Daniel RobinsonDaniel Robinson
Daniel Robinson

The centre of the operation was Donnelly’s Sutton shop - a front for the illegal activities - but the distribution of the drugs was nationwide.

The amount of drugs seized and their purity were aggravating factors in the sentencing.

Judge Sampson sentenced those involved in the operation as follows:

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Ben Mullins - who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce amphetamine, conspiracy to supply amphetamine and conspiracy to supply cocaine - 18 years and eight months imprisonment.

Anthony Donnelly - who was found guilty after trial of conspiracy to supply amphetamine - 12 years imprisonment.

Daniel Robinson (30), of Paling Crescent, Sutton - found guilty after trial of conspiracy to produce amphetamine and conspiracy to supply cocaine. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply amphetamine - 17 years imprisonment.

Craig Donnelly (23), of Barker Street, Huthwaite - found guilty after trial of conspiracy to produce amphetamine and conspiracy to supply cocaine. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply amphetamine - 17 years imprisonment.

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Michael Lawrence (25), of Victoria Street, Stanton Hill - pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply and possessing cannabis with intent to supply - nine years imprisonment.

Andrew Brimble (49), of Staffa Drive, Tibshelf - pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply amphetamine - four years imprisonment.

Richie Fido (29), of Broad Lane, Brinsley - pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce and to supply amphetamine - five years and four months imprisonment.

Charles Corke (41), from Merseyside - found guilty after trial of conspiracy to produce amphetamine - nine years imprisonment.

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Edward Taylor (30), of Ringlow Park, Swinton, Manchester - pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply amphetamine - 52 months imprisonment.

Paul Critchlow (47), of Humberside - found guilty after trial of conspiracy to supply cocaine, plus charges of mortgage fraud, handling stolen goods and charges in relation to counterfeit cigarettes - nine years imprisonment.

All the defendants will serve at least half of their sentences before being considered for release.

Catherine Harpham (24), of Victoria Street, Stanton Hill, was found guilty after trial of possession of cannabis with intent to supply and sentenced earlier this month to 12 months in prison but released due to time served.