Detectives in Sefton are welcoming the sentencing of 15 members of a Southport Organised Crime Group (OCG) to a total of over 110 years in prison for conspiracy to supply drugs.
The 15 men were sentenced between Monday 2nd August and Wednesday 4th August at Liverpool Crown Court. This followed an extensive investigation into the supply of cocaine and cannabis between 2018-2020 in Southport.
They are as follows:
Top line (left to right):
33-year-old Nathan Ball of Canning Road, Southport was sentenced to 12 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs
28-year-old Tom Rigby of Bull Cop, Formby was sentenced to 9 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs
26-year-old Jesse Fashoni of Bridge Grove, Southport was sentenced to 9 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs
*These three were assessed as a leading members of the OCG.*
23-year-old Brandon Culshaw of no fixed address was sentenced to 5 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs
33-year-old James Gelling of no fixed address was sentenced to 8 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs
Second line (left to right):
47-year-old James Nixon of Old School Close, Banks was sentenced to 6 years 8 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs
29-year-old Jordan Gelling of Lytham Road, Southport was sentenced to 9 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs
25-year-old Kane Doherty of Kensington Road, Southport was sentenced to 8 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs
25-year-old Kieran Bradshaw of Ovington Drive, Southport was sentenced to 9 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs
27-year-old Lewis Appleby of Forest Road, Southport was sentenced to 9 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs
Third line (left to right):
25-year-old Peter Ball of Canning Road, Southport was sentenced to 9 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs
36-year-old Philip Taylor of Station Road, Banks was sentenced to 4 years 8 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs
25-year-old Ryan Edwards of Alexandra Road, Southport was sentenced to 3 years 4 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs
27-year-old Stuart Stirling of no fixed address was sentenced to 2 years 6 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs
25-year-old Will Gardner of Cheyne Close, Blundellsands was sentenced to 6 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs and also possession of a stun gun, which was recovered in December 2019.
The following will be sentenced at a later date after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs:
23-year-old Cara Wilding of Hollins Court, The Larches, Hawarden, North Wales,
23-year-old Lee McChrystal-Cole of Pighue Lane, Wavertree
21-year-old Daniel Crompton of no fixed address
In addition 19-year-old Arlie Bailey of Knowsley Road, Southport and 25-year-old Brenden Gillam, of no fixed address, will also be sentenced at a later date after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
During the investigation, the OCG were identified as conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis and were subject to a strike day in October 2020, in which warrants were carried out and arrests made. Three kilos of MDMA and two kilos of amphetamines were recovered at addresses in Bootle and North Wales.
Cara Wilding also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and 38-year-old Patrick Hill of Hollins Court, The Larches, Hawarden, North Wales pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs relating to the drugs recovered. They will be sentenced at a later date.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Catherine Walsh said: “This sentencing marks the end of an extensive investigation which has dismantled this extremely harmful OCG, and I’m sure the communities of Southport and beyond share our satisfaction that these people have been removed from the streets.
“They will be unable to spread their misery any longer. Drug supply and associated violent crime ruins the lives of countless people, and those sentenced have also thrown away their own futures by getting involved. Hopefully some of those jailed today will reflect upon the risks, the harm, and their punishments, and change their ways.
“Serious and organised crime remains a priority for Merseyside Police, and we will continue to take positive action against those who blight our communities. Information from the public is vital and we will continue to act on all that we receive.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to remove drug dealers from our streets and provide our communities with a safe place to live, work and visit. My message to those engaged in organised crime is clear: we know who you are, we can see where you are operating, and we will come knocking.”
Anyone with information on drug dealing in supply in their community is asked to contact @MerPolCC, call 101 or Crimestoppers UK anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.
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