Men sentenced to total of more than 80 years for drugs offences

A total of 16 men have been sentenced to a combined total of more than 80 years for their involvement in the large-scale supply of cannabis in Ellesmere Port and Chester.

Between Monday 13 January and Wednesday 15 January 2025, the 16 individuals appeared at Chester Crown Court.

These included:

• Kyle Phillips, 28, of Capenhurst Lane, Ellesmere Port: A total of eight years for conspiracy to supply cannabis and importation of cannabis.
• Joshua Burns, 28, of Flint Court, Ellesmere Port: Six years and four months for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
• Jason Mayers, 32, of Princes Road, Ellesmere Port: Six years for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
• Daniel Taylor, 40, of Princes Road, Ellesmere Port: Five years and four months for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
• Adam Jones, 32, of Durham Court, Ellesmere Port: Five years for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
• Aiden Johnson, 31, of Kenilworth Court, Ellesmere Port: Six years and three months for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
• Ryan Neild, 25, of Luton Road, Ellesmere Port: Three years and eight months for conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession with intent to supply cannabis.
• Daniel Neild, 33, of Luton Road, Ellesmere Port: Four years and six months for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
• Gary Tushingham, 28, of Downing Close, Ellesmere Port: Six years and six months for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
• Nathan Elliott, 31, of Faraday Road, Ellesmere Port: Four years and 10 months for conspiracy to supply cannabis, plus an unrelated matter of possession of criminal property.
• Curtis Agarry, 26, of King Street, Ellesmere Port: Four years for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
• Thomas Cooper, 23, of Bebington Road, Ellesmere Port: Five years for conspiracy to supply cannabis, plus a separate domestic-related offence.
• Ethan McLaughlin, 23, of King Street, Ellesmere Port: Four years and two months for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
• Bailey Davies, 25, of Oliver Lane, Ellesmere Port: Four years and six months for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
• Joseph Henry, 34, of Blacon Point Road, Ellesmere Port: A total of five years and six months for conspiracy to supply cannabis and production of cannabis, plus an unrelated incident of affray.
• Patrick Knowles, 32, of Joseph Groome Towers, Ellesmere Port: Two years and six months for assisting an OCG.

Operation Heracles is an investigation conducted by Cheshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit into the supply of cannabis in Ellesmere Port and Chester between 12 April 2023 and 7 March 2024.

The supply network operated at an industrial level, obtaining multi-kilo amounts of cannabis through several sources, predominately from the Manchester and Liverpool areas.

Once obtained, cannabis was stored, prepared for onward sale, and later distributed to middle market suppliers, who in turn supplied the drugs to others.

Phillips, Burns, Mayers, Taylor, Jones and Johnson were classed as having leading roles in the crime group. Between them, they made direct contact with upstream suppliers and were involved in the transportation, storage, and distribution of cannabis, as well as coordinating the supply of cannabis through subordinates.

Ryan Neild, Daniel Neild, Tushingham, Elliott, Davies and Agarry were evidenced as having a significant role and were trusted members of the crime group, helping to collect, store and distribute cannabis.

Cooper also held a significant role in the distribution of the drugs, along with McLaughlin, whereas Henry played a lesser role in the conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Knowles’ involvement amounted to assisting an OCG.

Cheshire Police’s investigation highlighted significant quantities of cannabis and cash was being stored in multiple storage units at Indigo Business Park, Ellesmere Port, with members of the OCG visiting the location almost daily, as a base for their operation.

This resulted in search warrants being conducted by officers at the business park on 13 November 2023. The total amount of cash seized from the units was almost £11,000. Meanwhile, a total of up to £59,000 worth of a cannabis was seized.

Following this, further warrants as part of the investigation were carried out on 6 March 2024. The day involved more than 250 officers from Cheshire Police, targeting a number of addresses linked to the members of the OCG across Ellesmere Port and Chester.

Out of the 16 members of the OCG, 13 were arrested during the warrants and were subsequently charged. More drugs and cash were also seized, bringing the total amount of cash seized during the investigation to more than £29,552. The total amount of cannabis seized was worth up to almost £98,000.

Burns, Taylor and Knowles were produced from prison and charged on 20 March 2024. Burns had previously been arrested on 21 September 2023, while Taylor was arrested on 20 November 2023. They were both serving a 16-month sentence for possession with intent to supply cannabis. Meanwhile, Knowles had been remanded in custody for an unrelated matter of assault which he was arrested for in February 2024.

Due to the strength of the evidence against them, almost all of the OCG members pleaded guilty to their involvement. Tushingham pleaded not guilty but was found guilty after a trial.

Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Nick Henderson said:

“I welcome the sentences handed to these 16 individuals, who have collectively been put behind bars for more than 80 years.

“Each of these men were unemployed with no legitimate income but clearly reaped the benefits of their illegal activities.

“However, our officers embarked on a lengthy and detailed investigation and these individuals are now facing the consequences of their actions, while a large amount of class B drugs have been taken off the streets.

“Operation Heracles demonstrates our commitment to tacking organised crime and drugs offences. I hope this sends a warning to anyone who thinks they can commit drugs offences in Cheshire – you will be caught and held accountable.”