Gang who used children to deliver drugs jailed

Billy Livingstone (left) controlled the gang and Zhilwan Rezaee was his right-hand man

A drug dealing network has been left in "disarray" after nine gang members were sentenced, police have said.

The so-called Eldene Boys controlled multiple drug supply lines in Wiltshire, selling drugs like heroin, cocaine, crack and cannabis in Swindon.

They used children as young as 12 to hold and deliver drugs, giving them clothes and electric bikes in return for their help, Wiltshire Police said.

Nine members of the gang, which included two former semi-professional football players, were given sentences at Swindon Crown Court ranging from 10 years to 30 months.

Among those jailed was former Brackley Town FC player Shepherd Murombedzi who police said had a "long history of high-level drug supply" including being linked to imports from Europe and South America.

He was jailed for 10-and-a-half years.

Murombedzi recruited former teammate Tre Mitford into the gang to store and supply drugs for him.

He was sentenced to six and a half years in prison.

Drug lines

The recruited children were used to hold phones and drugs overnight and were paid for their services with clothing and electric bikes which were then used to deliver drugs.

Billy Livingstone, 25, was the head of the gang and officers found more than 800g of heroin with a street value of more than £50,000 when they searched his address.

Livingstone controlled the group, arranging drug supply lines and properties for people to operate from.

Shepherd Murombedzi was linked to drug imports from Europe and South America

He tried to buy other street dealers' drug lines when they were due to go to prison.

After he was remanded into custody in February 2024, co-leader Zhilwan Rezaee, 25, took control of the gang.

However, Rezaee was arrested a month later after officers found cocaine stored in a vehicle close to his home address in Tadpole Garden Village, scales and about £7,000 in cash.

Street level suppliers Leo Morris, 19, and Grant Townsend, 27, were also charged as a result of their involvement in the criminality of the gang.

Tre Mitford was recruited by his former teammate to store and supply drugs

Police then turned their focus onto the gang's suppliers.

Evidence showed cocaine was coming from Oxford, being supplied by Murombedzi operating on the Telegram messaging app under the name Dusseldorf.

When officers searched Murombedzi's address in June 2024, he threw away his personal phone by mistake and left his drug dealing line in his address. Officers found £50,000 in cash under his bed.

A restraint order has been issued against Murombedzi's house so it can be sold to repay the profit he made.

Leo Morris was sentenced for his role in the gang

The following gang members were sentenced after Operation Yuma. All nine had pleaded guilty to their offences and all were sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on various dates.

Billy Livingstone, 25, of Woodcutters Mews, Swindon, was sentenced to eight years and four months.

He was charged with:

• Acquiring, using or having possession of criminal property

• Being concerned in the production of an amount of cannabis oil

• Driving a car while disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence, and without insurance.

• Possession of cocaine, 800 grams of diamorphine and cannabis with intent to supply.

Callum Harvey-Mackenzie was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine

Zhilwan Rezaee, 25, of Horta Close, Tadpole Garden Village, was sentenced to nine years. He was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis to another person.

Shepherd Murombedzi, 30, of Hazel Crescent, Kidlington, was sentenced to 10 years and six months. He was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Tre Mitford, 30, of The High Street, Kidlington, was sentenced to six years and nine months. He was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Callum Harvey-Mackenzie, 28, of Bowleymead, Eldene, was sentenced to five years and 11 months. He was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Grant Townsend, 27, of Norwood Close, Liden, was recalled to prison and sentenced to a further nine months.

He was charged with:

• Facilitating the acquisition and possession of criminal property

• Being concerned in the supply of cocaine

Owen Hemmings, 26, of Cloche Way, Stratton St Margaret, was sentenced to 20 months, suspended for two years. He was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Charley Hunt, 29, of Lowes Close, Swindon, was sentenced to 24 months, suspended for two years. He was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Leo Morris, 19, of Homington Avenue, Swindon, was sentenced to 30 months in a young offender institution. He was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Gang 'now in disarray'

Det Sgt Neil Hilton, of Wiltshire Police's serious organised crime unit, said: "Gangs that seek to exploit children to undertake their dirty work will always draw the attention of the police.

"We would encourage parents to take an active interest in what their children are doing, who they are associating with whilst away from their house and what they are bringing home with them.

"Serious and organised criminals often operate in plain sight.

"The police have a good idea of who they are and what they are doing but sometimes need that final snippet of information from the public to fill in the blanks.

"The Eldene Boys considered themselves to be above the law, administering their own justice to their rivals and amongst their peers.

"The gang has now been left in disarray with their senior members serving lengthy custodial sentences."