Drug dealers who targeted Newcastle students jailed

David Knowles was jailed for three years

A gang of drug dealers who targeted students in Newcastle have been jailed.

David Knowles and his associates were caught selling cocaine to undercover police after three student deaths, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Knowles and six others admitted various offences and were jailed for up to five years five months, with some suspended.

Judge Penny Moreland said the students were an "easy target" as they were struggling with the impact of coronavirus lockdowns.

Prosecutor Michael Bunch said Northumbria Police ran an undercover operation from February to October 2021 to address a "noticeable increase of drug supply to the student population of Newcastle".

Hamzah Ali, Dilawar Tariq and Kieran Cash were jailed

He said the drug-related deaths of three students were the "immediate trigger" for the crackdown although there was "no suggestion" Knowles and his co-accused were involved in those cases.

Mr Bunch said an undercover officer made numerous deals for cocaine via phone with the drugs supplied on multiple occasions by Knowles, 27, in the Richardson Road area which is home to a large number of students.

'Felt disgust'

Knowles' partner Charlotte Johnstone, 22, Kieran Cash, 27, and William Campbell, 22, were also present at deals with the undercover officer, Mr Bunch said.

The court heard Knowles sourced the drugs from "upstream" dealers Hamzah Ali, 27, and Dilawar Tariq, 21, both of whom also operated their own drug supply chains in the Newcastle area.

The gang was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court

The court heard after being arrested and released, Tariq was caught again with almost £2,000 worth of drugs in the student area.

In mitigation, barrister Tony Cornberg said Knowles, who also worked as a doorman, felt "regret" and "disgust" for his offending.

'More mature'

Mr Cornberg said Knowles had a "very unfortunate start in life" with a "horrendous" childhood featuring physical and emotional abuse with criminal behaviour "normalised".

Glenn Gatland, for Kieran Cash, said the 27-year-old, who has a serious kidney illness, had been "beaten up" and "threatened" into selling drugs by Knowles after racking up a drugs debt.

Gerard Doran, for Ali, said he had shown remorse and was seeking to "change his way of life", adding he "became involved in the use of and supply of drugs" after suffering depression following a bereavement.

Peter Schofield, for Tariq, said the youngest defendant had accrued a £3,000 debt through his own cannabis use which led to him becoming involved in dealing, adding he was "now a much more mature individual".

Six defendants who admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, were sentenced to:

• David Knowles, 27, of Beaumont Court, Blaydon, jailed for three years

• Charlotte Johnstone, 22, of Beaumont Court, Blaydon, jailed for 21 months suspended for two years with 250 hours unpaid work

• Hamzah Ali, 27, of Brighton Grove, Newcastle, jailed for three years three months

• Tariq Dilawar, 21, of Wingrove Road, Newcastle, jailed for five years five months

• Kieran Cash, 27, of Strothers Road, High Spen, jailed for two years eight months

• William Campbell, 22, of Burnopfield Road, Rowlands Gill, jailed for 21 months suspended for two years with 150 hours unpaid work

Knowles also admitted possessing a firearm, namely an illegally powerful air rifle, while Tariq admitted possessing with intent to supply Class A drugs and Ali possessing with intent to supplying Class B drugs.

Judge Penny Moreland said all the defendants were "responsible for supplying cocaine into the student community in Newcastle with the consequent harm from that activity".

She said Tariq and Ali had "senior roles" in the gang while Knowles was a "trusted lieutenant" and Cash had a "management" position.

Billy Galbraith, 31, of Ainslie Place, Newcastle, admitted possessing Class B cannabis with intent to supply and possession of Class A MDMA, for which he was sentenced to nine months in prison suspended for 12 months, with 150 hours unpaid work.