Stafford man jailed for role in £750k drug ring - WATCH

Nicholas Hickson, aged 46, from Moorfields, is beginning a decade behind bars after admitting conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

He was one of 14 people in total to be jailed for a combined sum of more than 68 years at Stafford Crown Court in recent days following a six-month police operation.

The drug ring mainly operated from north Staffordshire.

On November 5, 2015, police stopped a Ford Transit van belonging to Newcastle-under-Lyme man Andrew Szulc, discovering 372 grams of cocaine.

Officers raided a unit in his name on Seagrave Street to find a large press and other equipment associated with supplying drugs.

Then between November 8 and 11 that year police seized further drug hauls in the area.

They recovered two kg of cocaine - worth £80,000 - from the address of David Birks on Pear Tree Lane, 0.5kg of cocaine - worth £20,000 - from the address of Anthony Colton at Chiltern Place as well as £40,000 from Nicholas Withington's home on St. Giles Road.

Later that month between the 25 and 28 officers raided the home of Robert Farrow at Trevithick Close, Stoke-on-Trent, recovering 0.5kg of cocaine.

During the searches police found large brown paper packages, plastic tubs containing blocks of white powder, scales, cash and mobile phones.

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "An investigation was launched by Staffordshire Police's Major and Organised Crime Unit after information came to light regarding suspected drug dealing in north Staffordshire involving multiple suspects.

"Officers started to build up a file of evidence and the investigation, which lasted around six months, established that the men were all associates of each other and their interaction was not legitimate."

In total around 3.5kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of £750,000 was seized.

Initially police arrested ten people in February last year in a joint operation with the National Crime Agency, then another four during the course of the investigation.

All were charged later admitting conspiracy to supply class drugs (cocaine). and have now been locked up.

Marc Brookes, aged 41, of Haslington Close, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was jailed for ten years.

Tomas Chapman, aged 27, of Heaton Terrace, Porthill, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was sentenced to four years and eight months.

Andrew Szulc, aged 51, of Easdale Place, Newcastle-under-Lyme, received four years and nine months.

Anthony Colton, aged 30, of Chiltern Place, Newcastle-under-Lyme, got four years and eight months.

Samuel Giliker, aged 29, of Moreton Parade, Maybank, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was jailed for eight years.

Andrew Edwards, aged 36, of Whitchurch Grove, Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme was sentenced to five years.

Andrew Pickerill, aged 33, of Heath Avenue, Newcastle-under-Lyme, got four years and two months.

Nicholas Hickson, aged 46, of Moorfields, Stafford, received ten years.

David Birks, aged 44, of Pear Tree Lane, Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was sentenced to 32 months.

Robert Farrow, aged 44, of Trevithick Close, Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent, was jailed for three years and nine months.

Nicholas Withington, aged 41, of St Giles Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was sentenced to two years.

Anthony Sargeant, aged 44, of Willow Close, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was jailed for five years and ten months.

Nicholas Hughes, aged 34, of Oldcastle Avenue, Newcastle-under-Lyme, received a 12-month community order and 240 hours of unpaid work.

Peter Gajewski, aged 51, of Watermeadow Grove, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, got five years.

Chief Inspector Pete Owen said: "This is a great result and we are delighted to see 14 men behind bars for a considerable period of time.

"All of these men played a significant role in fuelling drug crime in north Staffordshire and their sentences are very much welcomed.

"I hope this serves as a clear warning to those who think they can commit drug crime in Staffordshire - you will be caught and dealt with. Such criminal activity will not be tolerated.

"Staffordshire Police is committed to tackling drug crime in our communities and our work will continue under Operation Nemesis.

"Drug crime and the associated criminality it brings wrecks lives and creates misery in communities.

"Our efforts to bring these men to justice mean they will no longer be able to bring drugs to the streets of Staffordshire."