Drugs trio jailed for 84 years

Neil Ogden, 45, of Oker Avenue in Darley Dale was convicted of two charges of conspiracy to convert criminal property to the value of more than £100,000 and one charge of conspiracy to supply amphetamine following a two week hearing at Leicester Crown Court that began on June 22.

He had previously been found guilty of possession with intent to supply diazepam, conspiring to supply amphetamine, and 11 counts of conspiring to conceal or convert criminal property to the value of more than £1.8m.

He was imprisoned yesterday (July 8) to concurrent sentences ranging from 12 years to one year, for all 15 offences. In total he was sentenced to 71 years in prison.

Stephen Ogden, 68, also of Oker Avenue, was convicted of conspiracy to supply amphetamine. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

David Atkinson, 47, of The Croft, Beckingham, Doncaster was convicted of conspiracy, with Neil Ogden, to convert criminal property to the value of £87,500. At a previous trial he was found guilty of possessing cannabis with intent to supply and conspiring, with another man, to supply cannabis. He was sentenced to five years for the money laundering offences and two sentences of two years for cannabis possession offences. He will serve a total of seven years.

A fourth man connected to the case will be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on July 20.

The investigation:

The police investigation into Neil Ogden began in January 2012 when he was suspected of money laundering offences. Officers soon realised that he was living an affluent life-style without any obvious means of funding it. Checks with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the Department of Work and Pensions revealed that he was not claiming any benefits and had no declared income.

In February 2012 Ogden was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in prostitution for gain. When officers found £455 cash in his possession he was also arrested on suspicion of money laundering. Later investigations found no link to prostitution.

When Ogden’s home in Belmont Park, Holymoorside, was searched officers discovered more than £20,000, a cash counting machine, a quantity of drugs and a micro SD card.

Seven mobile phones were also found in a vehicle he used and at his home. As the investigation widened officers discovered that Ogden had links to people in New Mills, Buxton, Bakewell, Wirksworth, Chesterfield, Alfreton, Ripley, Sutton-in-Ashfield and Nottingham, all of whom had previous convictions for drug offences.

The SD card contained what appeared to be drug dealer list, setting out values of drugs supplied and money owing. This trial follows a previous hearing in October last year in which 14 men, including Neil Ogden and David Atkinson were found or pleaded guilty to numerous drug related offences.

At that trial the judge handed out sentences totalling more than 28 years’ in prison or fines totalling £3,000.

Superintendent Graham McLaughlin said: “This was a long and complex investigation which has led to the conviction of 15 men.

“The jury heard how Neil Ogden lived a lavish lifestyle built on money he gained from his criminal behaviour. He took advantage of others who were dependent on drugs and used them to his advantage.

“During the investigation officers seized cash totalling £51,000, around £30,000 worth of drugs, three BMW cars, two Range Rovers and a Volvo. These vehicles, the cash and other property thought to belong to Neil Ogden will now be considered at a further court hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.”