Electrician faces jail for drug gang aid

Asda coffee tins were used by drug couriers to transport heroin and cocaine between the Black Country and Aberdeen, a court heard.

An electrician was facing jail today after being convicted of helping a gang in the illegal drugs trade between the two regions.

Jurors found Leonard Dixon guilty at the end of a two week trial of conspiracies to ship the drugs to Scotland.

Police found £50,000 worth of heroin and cocaine in a coffee tin bought from the supermarket, Stafford Crown Court was told.

Officers were today still hunting two other members of the gang, including one who is thought to have fled to Jamaica.

Dixon is due to be sentenced next week, alongside former prostitute Melanie Clarke, who gave evidence for the prosecution.

The 30-year-old mother of one, from Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, told the court about drug shipments from the city to Aberdeen which took place "every week".

Mr Michael Burrows QC, prosecuting, alleged "the head of the gang" was Clarke's former partner, Carl Wilson, who flew to Jamaica three days after police busted the drug runners in Aberdeen in December 2008 and has not been seen since.

Dixon was recruited to chauffeur Wilson from Wolverhampton to Aberdeen in a £40,000 BMW courtesy car.

He made the journey twice, just before police raided a flat in Aberdeen on December 4, 2008 and found the coffee tin.

According to Clarke, Dixon helped her pack drugs into the coffee tin on the night of December 3, 2008, and delivered it to her home the following morning.

Clarke, of Victoria Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton admitted two charges of conspiring with Carl Wilson, Derek Jones and Wayne Lengyel to supply heroin and cocaine between September 1, 2008 and February 4 last year.

Dixon, 42, formerly of Willenhall Road, Wolverhampton now of Perkins Close, Dudley, had denied both charges. He maintained he knew nothing about the drug running and was paid £300 to drive Wilson and Lengyel to Aberdeen on December 1.

Judge Mark Eades remanded Dixon in custody to be sentenced with Clarke. Police today appealed for help in finding Derek Jones and Carl Wilson.

Detective Inspector Martin Brennan from Force CID, who led the investigation, said: "We are extremely satisfied with the court's verdict.

"This has been a concerted effort to capture and convict all members of this organised crime group, who are responsible for supplying millions of pounds worth of class A drugs over a number years between Wolverhampton and Aberdeen."

Wolverhampton's drugs links to Aberdeen are well known. Dealers can make vast profits by selling heroin and cocaine on the streets of the city where they have a higher price than in the West Midlands.