Crime Correspondent: Liverpool

James Williams imprisoned for three years after he admitted allowing the premises to be used for the production of class A drugs.

James Williams imprisoned for three years after he admitted allowing the premises to be used for the production of class A drugs.Williams was originally charged with five offences including producing ecstasy and ketamine tablets on or before January 14, possession of drugs with intent to supply and possessing a firearm. But the 35-year-old, who has no previous convictions, denied being involved in the drugs operation.He accepted allowing dealers to use his property.Officers entered the second floor flat at about 8.45pm after a 999 call from a neighbour. They discovered more than 3,300 pills containing ecstasy and ketamine in packages in the kitchen, living room and bedrooms, worth up to £16,000.A heavy-duty pill press was found under a duvet.But it was when officers searched a transit van outside they thought they had made the real find.Inside was a smooth-bore shotgun with cartridges and two bags containing a total of 101,588 pills, worth up to £500,000.Charles Lander, prosecuting, said analysis later revealed they contained no illegal drugs. Experts ruled it was likely they had been made from the same tablet press, before the ones containing ecstasy, and could have been sold for the same amount. Judge Holloway said: “It’s just like having a production line – once you have the ability to produce in bulk and open up the facility those who are using it can produce as many as they like.”One man is still on bail in connection with the find and police are trying to trace at least two others.

James Williams imprisoned for three years after he admitted allowing the premises to be used for the production of class A drugs.

James Williams imprisoned for three years after he admitted allowing the premises to be used for the production of class A drugs.Williams wa...

Christopher Pimblett ran his sophisticated drug trafficking empire from his lavish St Helens home.

The racket was run by husband and wife Christopher and Sharon Pimblett from their St Helens home.The couple, who have since divorced, dispatched vans with heroin and cocaine hidden inside.The drivers would then return to St Helens with plastic bags stuffed full of cash.By raking in around £40,000 a week, the couple are estimated to have made more than £4m over two years.Yesterday, Christopher Pimblett was jailed for 12 years after Judge Brian Lewis ruled he was the “controlling mind” of the gang.He organised couriers and shipments, and liaised with Glasgow-based Fergus Smith – who was in control of the Scottish side of the organisation.Smith was locked up for 10 years and Pimblett’s former wife Sharon jailed for four years.Judge Lewis said Sharon Pimblett, a former pharmacy worker who was tearful throughout the proceedings, had an “active” role in assisting her husband.He jailed the 17-strong gang, who were convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A, B and C drugs from January 1, 2005 to April 17, 2007, for a total of 108 years and two months.He said: “This was a large-scale, relatively sophisticated operation which was active for a period of over two years.”He added: “Class A drugs are the greatest social problem of our time.”Judge Lewis said the scale of the racket was obvious from the seizures police made – more than 10kg of cocaine, 50kg of cannabis, 12,000 ecstasy tables and more than £400,000 cash.However, that did nothing to prevent the operation continuing. When officers raided the homes of gang members they found wads of cash, drums full of cutting agents and drug paraphernalia including cocaine presses. The gang was making so much profit they invested in money-counting machines.Expensive cars were shared between the gang and some members were planning to buy property abroad.Now a drugs gang who lived the high-life are behind bars. Kingpin Christopher Pimblett ran his sophisticated drug trafficking empire from his lavish St Helens home.But Pimblett and his now ex-wife Sharon earned their £40,000 a week income by running drugs to Scotland and getting dealers to sell them on the streets of St Helens.The couriers were paid a few hundred pounds a trip, but Pimblett and those closet to him amassed a mountain of cash.Around £400,000 was found by police in safes buried in the garden of Philip Brown, Pimblett’s step-father.Detective Inspector Andy Black, of Merseyside Police’s Matrix unit, said: “They all had nice houses, nice cars and enjoyed travelling and foreign holidays.“Around the time Pimblett was arrested, he was talking about buying a house abroad and we know others had already done so.“Ian Moffatt was arrested by us on the Tarmac at Heathrow as he came back from one of numerous trips to Spain.” Financial investigators are already a long way down the road to stripping the gang of their ill-gotten gains under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Christopher Pimblett ran his sophisticated drug trafficking empire from his lavish St Helens home.

The racket was run by husband and wife Christopher and Sharon Pimblett from their St Helens home.The couple, who have since divorced, dispat...

Russell Burke,Christopher Burke,Jeanette Burke Merseyside drug smuggling scaffolders

John Mullally was one of three men who masterminded a racket in which millions of pounds worth of cocaine and heroin were shipped into the UK in scaffolding packaging. Russell Burke, of Strathmore Road, Fairfield; Christopher Burke, of Babbacombe Road, Childwall; and Jeanette Burke, of Old Hall Street, Liverpool city centre, all face similar hearings during June and July.They used a legitimate construction business as a front for their trade. The 20-strong gang was jailed for a total of more than 200 years in July 2006 following a police operation codenamed Lima, which watched their activities for more than a year.Mullally, 45, formerly of Rutherford Road, Mossley Hill, was jailed for 14 years for conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. Yesterday, he was back before Liverpool crown court for a Proceeds of Crime hearing, where it was ruled he should be stripped of £376,132 in cash and assets. Judge Mark Brown told Mullally he had 28 days to release thousands of pounds from several bank accounts.Thousands of pounds more are already being held by Merseyside police after being seized when he was arrested.Judge Brown also warned Mullally he would be jailed for a further three-and-a-half years if he failed to hand over the total amount within six months.Mullally is the first of three members of the gang to face being stripped of their ill-gotten gains this week.David Baker, of Inchape Road, Broadgreen, and Keith Burke, of Quebec Quay, Liverpool city centre, are both due to appear in court tomorrow. The gang’s scheme centred around a construction firm called KBE Engineering, which was set up by Burke in Aintree.Burke received 11 years for his part in the drug-smuggling operation, while Baker was jailed for 24 years for conspiracy to supply and contempt of court.The criminals had strong links with Spain, Holland and the Balkans.They moved scaffolding between Merseyside and the continent to give the impression of a legitimate construction business.While workers carried out genuine jobs across the North West, deliveries of scaffolding equipment were sent abroad for fake jobs.When the metalwork returned to Britain, its packaging was filled with huge quantities of class A drugs.The undercover investigation resulted in heroin and cocaine worth £2.5m being recovered before it hit the streets and clubs of Merseyside.

Russell Burke,Christopher Burke,Jeanette Burke Merseyside drug smuggling scaffolders

John Mullally was one of three men who masterminded a racket in which millions of pounds worth of cocaine and heroin were shipped into the U...

Liverpool man suspected of leading a drugs trafficking operation was arrested after he flew into Luton from Dubai

Liverpool man suspected of leading a drugs trafficking operation was arrested at a UK airport.Three men from Bootle were also today being questioned by police in connection with a drugs plot.Armed police swooped at six addresses in Liverpool and Sefton yesterday after search warrants were executed.Police confirmed the three men from Bootle were being questioned at police stations in Merseyside. They said one man was aged 57 and another 40, but did not reveal the age of the third man.The raids followed the earlier arrest of a Merseyside man, 39, who was detained by officers from the Serious Organised Crime Agency. They held him after he flew into Luton from Dubai yesterday.Police believe he is the ringleader of an organised criminal gang which they have been tracking for 12 months. He was seized by police on suspicion of drugs trafficking and false identity offences.His arrest gave the green light for a series of raids across Liverpool and Sefton.Addresses in Bootle, Litherland, Crosby and Kirkdale were visited by armed police as stunned locals looked on.One woman told how officers smashed down the front door of a house in Enstone Avenue, Litherland, before raiding the house. She said: “The front door was damaged and there were police cars and vans on the street. Everyone asking what’s been going on.”

Liverpool man suspected of leading a drugs trafficking operation was arrested after he flew into Luton from Dubai

Liverpool man suspected of leading a drugs trafficking operation was arrested at a UK airport.Three men from Bootle were also today being qu...

Damien O'Connor guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiW3SUuiSlbbitDFZQBvZXcHvmneQbPdnzacVI-8dJMiXTf1UQLHFpVevWjp0gDy1YXfvgiNwA2H7CvN0DABedQCy8W7qzbVTH76Libjmx5l5R-Rg0qYkm_ST6IvQ2aux6-VFTZQMDT4/s1600-h/TH1_12220082Damien-O'Conner.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166608874746451042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiW3SUuiSlbbitDFZQBvZXcHvmneQbPdnzacVI-8dJMiXTf1UQLHFpVevWjp0gDy1YXfvgiNwA2H7CvN0DABedQCy8W7qzbVTH76Libjmx5l5R-Rg0qYkm_ST6IvQ2aux6-VFTZQMDT4/s400/TH1_12220082Damien-O'Conner.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> Damien O'Connor, 43, of Woodlands in Scotforth, Lancaster, and now resident in Belgium, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. The verdict at Liverpool Crown Court, comes after a joint operation between Lancashire Constabulary's Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU); the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA); and the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO). Operation Medlar targeted the distribution of Class A drugs around the north west of England by an organised crime group based in Accrington. Shortly after it started in August 2006 it became apparent that the operation crossed international boundaries due to links with Damien O'Connor in Belgium and Holland, and meetings with James Craw, 44, of Hale Carr, Morecambe; and Stephen Marshall, 32, of Edenvale Crescent, Lancaster; who at this time were subjects of a SOCA Operation, codenamed Capote. It was agreed that the investigation would be run jointly making it the first joint operation of its kind since the formation of SOCA. A total of 12 subjects were identified for the two operations including Majeed Shah, 32, of King Street, Lancaster. From August-December 2006, numerous conversations and meetings were recorded. Evidence gathering continued and all suspects were arrested in February 2007 following a co-ordinated joint strike operation between SOCU and SOCA in England and the Belgian authorities with regard to O'Connor. All were later charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Between July 2006 and February 2007, the defendants imported a total of 10kg of heroin and 10kg of cocaine with a street value in excess of £1 million from the continent. The drugs were imported by lorry where delivery teams in Merseyside and Lancashire sold them on. The operation spanned three countries including investigations and evidence taken in England, Belgium and the Netherlands. All 12 men will be sentenced at a later date. Detective Supt Dave Brian, head of Lancashire Constabulary's Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: "I am delighted with the result which highlights first class co-operation between SOCU, SOCA and RCPO. This shows how Lancashire Constabulary is making Lancashire a difficult place for organised criminals to operate and I would hope that this sends a strong message to those who commit serious and organised crime - you will be caught and punished."

Damien O'Connor guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs

Damien O'Connor, 43, of Woodlands in Scotforth, Lancaster, and now resident in Belgium, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class ...

Keith Doyle, 49, was quizzed after police allegedly found 9oz of cannabis

Keith Doyle, 49, was quizzed after police allegedly found 9oz of cannabis and £2,000 in a safe on the premises. Wife Lorraine, 47, was also ...

Frank Hannigan

Frank Hannigan He was asleep when the police arrived and when questioned admitted he had some cannabis and cocaine. Underneath his bed they found a double barrel shotgun and a stun gun. In a spare bedroom officers found 126 grams of cannabis and six grams of cocaine were found in the dining room, said Robert Jansen, prosecuting. A drug dealer's tick list was also discovered as were scales and £990 cash. Hannigan, 24, said the drugs were for his own use and the money came from buying and selling cars. Although on benefits he said the tick list related to money he had loaned people, said Mr Jansen. Hannigan said that the guns had been given to him by friends to add to his weapons collection. Hannigan pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply, possessing cocaine and two fireams offences. Gareth Bellis, defending, said that Hannigan sold cannabis to fund his cocaine habit. Jailing Hannigan, who has previous drugs convictions, Judge Gerald Clifton pointed out that people involved with drugs often have weapons to defend themselves.

Frank Hannigan

Frank Hannigan He was asleep when the police arrived and when questioned admitted he had some cannabis and cocaine. Underneath his bed they ...

Danny Gee

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA89cxuerWcbh6Hn3PHd6cB1Ca3YJWSLjw6jhtkiBsK50OzHYyMyWKrnAngNEbTmWjC_l4SHyAI9_yfV-ODAt_JNmUXw-fP13UZ2L68DBEwTJlJNpAfZ1JIej-OVWI0F_2z65LOC1De4o/s1600-h/53F94EBF-05CC-3FD8-4665C8B9F88557F5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152748081734413106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA89cxuerWcbh6Hn3PHd6cB1Ca3YJWSLjw6jhtkiBsK50OzHYyMyWKrnAngNEbTmWjC_l4SHyAI9_yfV-ODAt_JNmUXw-fP13UZ2L68DBEwTJlJNpAfZ1JIej-OVWI0F_2z65LOC1De4o/s320/53F94EBF-05CC-3FD8-4665C8B9F88557F5.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> Danny Gee, 28, was arrested on Saturday night after police raided a house in Cornhill, just off Wapping, near Liverpool city centre. Nearly 300 bags of heroin and cocaine, along with a quantity of cannabis, were found at the address. A search of the property also uncovered four imitation firearms, a decommissioned musket and some Samurai swords.

Danny Gee

Danny Gee, 28, was arrested on Saturday night after police raided a house in Cornhill, just off Wapping, near Liverpool city centre. Nearly ...