Mother and son jailed for part in Wolverhampton drugs racket
A mother and son were today behind bars for their part in a drugs racket that funded a luxury lifestyle. Nikki Walsh, the former partner of the man running the 28-month cocaine racket, was jailed for two-and-a-half years.
The 42-year-old's proposed sentence was halved as reward for braving a "direct and perceived threat to her life" to give evidence that led to Brendan Durnin's conviction at an earlier trial. But 21-year-old Kyle Walsh, her son from another relationship, was jailed for four years.
He was punished for pushing drugs for Durnin, who is himself now serving 11 years behind bars.
Their neighbour, 22-year-old Stuart Whyman, also sold drugs for the ring and should have also been sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court but was too ill to attend and will be dealt with on January 11.
Police found £22,000 worth of cocaine in a supermarket bag and £8,500 cash when they raided the home of the mother and son in Shawbury Road, Park Village, Wolverhampton, on March 22.
They discovered further wraps of drugs in a safe at the house next door where Whyman lived. The three defendants all admitted conspiracy to supply drugs.
Nikki Walsh admitted repacking deals at her home and was bought a car, luxury clothes and shoes and an expensive watch by Durnin using cash from the racket he ran between January 2010 and March this year, the court was told.
Her unemployed son had a car, £2,000 watch and £8,000 in the bank after selling cocaine for the gang using a mobile phone found in his bedroom that received an average 29 calls a day.
Justin Hughestan-Roberts, defending Nikki Walsh, said: "She knew there was a direct and perceived threat to her life but still gave evidence that ensured the conviction of her of her former partner."
