THREE men and a woman have been handed more than 10 years in prison for their role in a drugs supply conspiracy between Manchester and Kendal.

The following four appeared at Carlisle Crown Court today (December 1):

- Adam Hussain, 36, of 29 Marshall Road, Manchester, was sentenced to 4 years;
- Jade Hewitson, 26, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 3 years 4 months.

- Zak Brown, 23, of no fixed abode was sentenced to 2 years and 2 months;

- Michael Nelson, 26, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 16 months.

All of the defendants had previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs.

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The sentencing follows Operation Tamper – a police investigation carried out by the Constabulary’s South Drugs Unit in August 2017.

This criminal group had established themselves in summer 2017 as a main supplier of Class A drugs in Kendal. Hussain was head of this arm of an Organised Crime Group, while Hewitson, Brown and Nelson were carrying out the street dealing.

Brown had been arrested on May 29, 2017 when he was stopped by police coming into Kendal with £1,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine.

Hussain was arrested at his home address in Manchester on August 31st, after officers executed a search warrant, and both Hewitson and Nelson were arrested on September 5, despite attempts to evade police.

A spokesperson for the South Drugs Unit said: “These sentences show that the Courts will deal robustly with persons involved in this type offence. People need to be aware that should they become involved in this type of organised crime, they should expect a lengthy custodial sentence.

“Drugs have a negative effect on the community. South Drug Squad will continue to target both individuals and groups who believe they can supply drugs in South Cumbria. We will use all legislation open to us to make sure drugs are recovered and persons are brought to justice.”

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Stalker said: “This is yet another example of our officers working to disrupt a county lines drug network, where criminal groups from outside Cumbria seek to establish the supply of controlled drugs in other parts of the country, away from where they live.

“These criminal gangs look to exploit young and vulnerable people in the local area, who are used to carry out the street deals, and / or to let their homes be used as a base for the criminal activity.

“We are working hard within our Force to continue to tackle this sort of criminality, and ask anyone with information about drug dealing to get in touch with us. The part the public can play in bringing these offenders to justice can be vital.”

Anyone with information can contact Cumbria Police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency.