Three jailed after £1m of MDMA discovered in Staffordshire

Two men and one woman were sentenced today after the Stafford Crown Court trial heard how the Holiday Inn Express, situated at J13 of the M6 in Stafford, was used as a meeting point to exchange and deal a large quantity of drugs.

The three were convicted at a previous hearing on October 22. Leah Parkes, aged 28, from Prospect Place in Bury, Lancashire, was jailed for seven years. Charles Hendrie, aged 30, of Prospect Place, Bury, Lancashire, was locked up for 10 years, and Adib Asfour, aged 26, of Kinlet Close, Wolverhampton, was also sentenced to 10 years in jail.

On 6 November 2013 Hendrie and Parkes travelled to the hotel in a van.

After Parkes checked in, carrying a light-coloured double strapped shoulder bag, Hendrie travelled to Brownhills where a package of drugs was loaded into the van.

He then returned to the hotel and parked up in an unlit area. It is here the drugs were separated into two suitcases which were taken into the hotel room by Hendrie.

A short time later the defendant Asfour, and another man, entered the hotel room empty-handed. They left in possession of the light-coloured shoulder bag, believed to contain three kilos of MDMA.

During the early evening of 6 November 2013 Hendrie and Parkes left the hotel with one suitcase. A targeted stop-check by Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) officers on the M6 southbound, between J11and 10A, found a suitcase of drugs in the boot.

The suitcase contained 16 packages of MDMA. Both Hendrie and Parkes were arrested.

A subsequent search of the hotel room uncovered the outstanding suitcase containing 19 packages of MDMA.

The police investigation also led to the arrest of Harrington on November 26, and Asfour on December 11.

It later transpired that Hendrie and Parkes had been on holiday in Ibiza where they met Asfour, and as a result, all three became involved in the drug scene.

Investigating officer at Staffordshire Police, DC Simon Bowden, welcomed today's sentencing.

"Staffordshire Police will not tolerate drug misuse and we will take dealers, and their associates, off the streets," he said.

"Although the defendants do not live in Staffordshire they used the area as a central meeting point to exchange, and deal, a large quantity of MDMA.

"Following information received, officers intercepted Hendrie and Parkes on the M6. Their arrest, and a detailed investigation, led to the arrest of three other people suspected of being involved in drug crime.

"We also stopped 34.8kg of MDMA, with a street value of £1.05m, from getting on to the streets.

"Together with our partners we will continue to take a tough stance on criminals involved in drugs and related criminal behaviour."