COURT TOLD OF DRUG DENS AND BETRAYAL

Published on 18th December 2008 in News

A life of lawlessness, drug dens, betrayal and fear was revealed as seven Goole drug dealers were jailed at Hull Crown Court last week.

The lid was lifted on Goole's crack-cocaine world as the latest in a catalogue of pushers were sentenced to a total of 17 and a half years in jail. The harsh reality of lives wrecked by the grip of drug addiction and organised crime emerged.

The smiles were stripped from the series of gaunt-looking dealers' faces, who typically appeared much older than their years. Instead, many tears were shed as Crown barrister Nigel Clive told the court - sitting in a special hearing - how Liverpool crack-cocaine sold at £10 a hit had brought misery to Goole.

Liverpool dealers set up business like cuckoos in homes in Eastgate and Kingsway for more than 12 months.

He said: "Operation Diamond has shown that, on each occasion, the dealers have targeted vulnerable persons, using their homes to deal from. They offered these persons drugs in return for their services. The groups are managed and run from Liverpool and are part of a wider related operation throughout the country."

"They invariably used pseudonyms, never revealing their correct identities, and the length of time they are in the area can be relatively short. Maybe a month at a time. Sometimes they remain, but sometimes they move to a different part of the country."

The story of Danyell Marshall (25), of Jackson Street in Goole, was depressingly typical. She had been taken into care and then became trapped on a spiral of crime and drugs.

The court heard that her problems started with alcohol, but moved to crack cocaine. She fell into a six-year relationship with drug dealer Gareth Isle (22), also sentenced in the hearing. Her criminal career had seen her before the court on six occasions for eight offences - dishonesty and violence going back to 1999.

In March this year she was given a six-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to seek drug help for stealing a £320 mobile telephone near Goole railway station.

Ms Marshall has three children, aged six, five and two. All were taken from her by social services as a result of her chaotic life. Now she has been told they are to be adopted.

Patricia Doherty, defending, said: "She was merely a go-between for the Scousers and drug users. She has tried to rid herself of drug addiction. She decided when she was given a suspended sentence she would try and help herself."

But she was caught under Operation Diamond by female police officers posing as addicts desperate to score, like herself. Ms Marshall pleaded guilty to six offences of supplying crack cocaine, five of supplying heroin and one of being concerned in the supply of heroin.

Despite the threat of prison hanging over her, she went out and stole shoes worth £14 from Pound Stretcher on June 14 and was caught dealing for the Scousers at a flat "central to the case" at Eastgate, in Goole. It was the subject of a high-profile raid on November 11.

Miss Docherty said: "She may show a hard exterior, but she has told me she has nothing to live for. She is 25 years old. She has lost everything. She has lost her home and she has lost her children. There are concerns for her health."

She was jailed for three years by Recorder Julian Goose, QC.

Also jailed in the hearing were: Gareth Isle, of Queensway in Goole, who pleaded guilty to one charge of supplying two wraps of crack cocaine to undercover police. He was sentenced to two years.

Lauren Barker (21), of Park Terrace, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to one offence of supplying what she believed to be crack cocaine. It was wax. She was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work.

Victoria Whiteley (20), of Carlisle Street in Goole, pleaded guilty to one of offence of supplying class A drugs. At the time she had been given a four-month suspended sentence. She was sent to a Young Offenders' Institution for two years and four months.

Andrew Lunn (26), of Willow Road in Thorne, pleaded guilty to four offences of supplying heroin. His sentencing was adjourned.

Andrew Tully (23), of Coachman Drive, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to three charges of supplying crack cocaine and four of supplying heroin. He was jailed for four years.

Janis Bultis (20), of Duke Street, Grimsby, was jailed for two and a half years for nine charges of supplying heroin and one of supplying crack cocaine.

Alan Harwood (33), a barge renovator of Carlisle Street in Goole, pleaded guilty to two charges of supplying class A drugs on August 5 and 7, when officers contacted a dealer in Kingsway. He was jailed for two years.

Desiree Jarrold (33), of Eastgate, pleaded guilty to a charge of making an offer to supply heroin and one charge of supplying heroin. She actually stole £10 from police, too. She was jailed for two years.

There was no reference to a Liverpool-based 'Mr Big' being snared in the operation - rather it was the trusted lieutenants or 'mules' - who took the greatest risks for the least rewards - who are behind bars for Christmas.