Drugs gang jailed for 'flooding' Grantham with heroin and cocaine

Top row l-r Johnathan Ferry, Adam Higgs, Paul Hull, bottom row l-r James Straw, Stuart Frazier, Jamie Darby

Members of an organised crime gang who "flooded" a town with large quantities of cocaine and heroin have been jailed.

Prosecutors said the gang in Grantham, Lincolnshire, sold drugs "on a huge scale for what must have been huge profits".

The group was headed by 46-year-old Jonathan Ferry from Grantham, who previously admitted the charges.

He, along with James Straw from Nottinghamshire, was jailed for 16 years.

Matthew Lowe, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court Ferry was involved with other organised crime groups from Nottinghamshire and Manchester.

"Ferry was sufficiently well established so as to be able to obtain supplies of heroin and cocaine in huge quantities," said Mr Lowe.

"He used others to do the work for him. He rarely took the risk himself."

Mr Lowe said others involved played important roles including collecting, storing, preparing and distributing the drugs.

He said they sourced their drugs from at least two other criminal groups - based in the Retford and Ollerton areas of Nottinghamshire, as well as Manchester.

The charges all related to a period between January and October 2014 when "massive" amounts of drugs were brought into the town by the gang.

Ch Insp Mark Kirwa, of Lincolnshire Police, said: "The community will be rid of these individuals for a significant amount of time and the scourge that they brought with them."

Police said the case involved more than £1m of drugs.

Sentences

• Jonathan Paul Ferry, 46, of Larch Close, Grantham - sentenced to 16 years

• James Straw, 50, of Petersmith Drive, Ollerton - sentenced to 16 years

• Adam Higgs, 24, of Shaw Road, Grantham - sentenced to 14 years

• Paul Hull, 47, of Nene Court, Grantham - sentenced to 12 years

• Stuart Frazier, 54, of Princess Drive, Grantham - sentenced to 10 years

• Jamie Darby, 39, of Princess Drive, Grantham - sentenced to 10 years

• Ashley Toulson, 27, of Edward Street, Grantham - sentenced to two years four months

• Adam Gill, 29, of South Parade, Grantham - sentenced to three years six months

• Martin Cooper, 31, of Calder Close, Grantham - sentenced to three years six months

• Tyrone Sly, 46, of Bye Path Road, Retford - sentenced to 10 years six months

• Luke Smith, 26, of Goulden Street, Salford ­- sentenced to eight years

• Francesca Moynihan, 22, of Hawthorne Drive, Salford - sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years

• Ryan Anderson, 30, of Walmer Street, Manchester - sentenced to eight years