West Midlands drugs gang jailed for 53 years after Stafford plot

The 10-strong group of men was jailed for conspiring to dish out heroin and crack cocaine in Stafford from areas across the West Midlands.

The 'large scale' operation saw the crooks gather thousands of pounds after forcefully taking over properties to expand their illegal enterprise.

Inspector Melissa Byrne, of Staffordshire Police, said: “This was a sophisticated operation, the group had the capability to supply heroin and crack cocaine around the clock, with offenders working shifts.

"I am very proud of the investigation conducted by my team, which has seen the drugs network dismantled and those responsible handed lengthy prison sentences.

“Vulnerable people have been protected from this group and I hope that these sentences act as a warning to anyone who thinks they can come from other areas to deal drugs in Staffordshire. We will not tolerate drug dealing in any form.”

Staffordshire Police launched its probe into the drugs network after Walsall man Kyle Stewart was arrested in Stafford for possession of heroin and crack cocaine in August and then again in September 2015.

Stewart later joined forces with Bilston crook Rickel Rawlins, West Bromwich criminal Shaquille Reid and Jordan Baker from south London to supply drugs in Stafford.

The trio then called on street dealers to expand their operation round-the-clock, the force said.

Stewart and Baker were arrested for possession of drugs in Derby in February 2016, while fellow crooks Ashley Clowes, from Stone, and Jordan Wheatley, from Stafford, were arrested a month earlier.

Stewart was later jailed for six-years but Baker and Rawlins, who had a 'drugs line' phone used to supply the illicit substances, took charge of the operation.

Stafford Crown Court heard how addicts would call the line before street dealers were given instructions on how to supply the drugs.

Criminals operating the phone line would also work 'shifts' to maximise their profits.

Police then arrested Stafford man Westley Walton for drugs possession after stopped a car on the M6 near the town.

Baker and Rawlins were with him when officers seized mobile phones - including the drugs line phone - and scales with traces of cocaine.

Two months later, Baker was caught with a new drugs line phone.

Officers also stormed a Stafford property where Mark Rogers, from the town, and Birmingham man Tyon Gordon were arrested, while Christopher Edwards - also from Stafford -was arrested in May.

Sentencing at Stafford Crown Court last week, Judge Jonathan Salmon said: “This was a large scale County Lines and cuckooing operation whereby Stewart, Rawlins, Reid and Baker set up a drug supply from the West Midlands area into Stafford.”

All defendants were linked to the drugs operation, with thousands of pounds and large quantities of drugs seized during the investigation.

Rogers and Reid were convicted following trial while their eight co-defendants admitted conspiring to supply heroin and cocaine.

Kyle Stewart, 23, of Caldmore Road, Walsall, was jailed for 10 years

Shaquille Reid, 23, of Railway Street, West Bromwich, was jailed for 9 years 9 months

Jordan Baker, 22, of Mayday Road, Thornton Heath, London, was jailed for 8 years 6 months

Rickel Rawlins, 22, of Marbury Drive, Bilston, was jailed for 7 years 2 months

Mark Rogers, 39, of Albert Terrace, Stafford, was jailed for 5 years 3 months

Christopher Edwards, 31, of Mill Bank, Stafford, was jailed for 3 years

Westley Walton, 41, of Lloyd Street, Stafford, was jailed for 2 years 8 months

Ashley Clowes, 22, of Princes Street, Stone, was jailed for 2 years 4 months

Jordan Wheatley, 20, of Blythe Road, Stafford, was jailed for 1 year 10 months

Tyon Gordon, 20, of Park Avenue, Hockley, Birmingham, was jailed for 1 year 8 months