Current timestamp: 23/03/2023 20:27:55
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal ActivityLoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitterTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

Thanks for trying the 'beta' version of our new website. It's a work in progress, we'll be adding new services over the next few weeks, so please take a look and tell us what you think.

Get started

staffordshire-police-logo

Search this website

Main navigation menu

  • Report

    Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Domestic abuse
    • Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences
    • Road traffic incident
    • Report antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud, bribery or corruption
    • Civil disputes
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
  • Tell us about

    Back to Tell us about

    • Tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • An existing case or report
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Filming
    • Abnormal vehicle load
  • Apply or register

    Back to Apply or register

    • Careers
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
    • Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP)
  • Request

    Back to Request

    • A collision report
    • Intellectual property (IP) licence
    • Your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
  • Thanks and complaints

    Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Complaints
    • Say thanks
    • Feedback about the website
  • Your area

Breadcrumb

  1. ...
  2. News

Six jailed for major drugs conspiracy in south Staffs

Main article content

Navigation

News

11:54 02/11/2019

A south Staffordshire man who ran an operation supplying cocaine was jailed for 18.5 years for drugs and firearms offences.

JonesandCamel.jpgA south Staffordshire man who ran an operation supplying cocaine was jailed yesterday (1 November) for 18.5 years for drugs and firearms offences.

The arrest of Christopher Jones, aged 32, who was formerly known as Ricky Bates, led to a Staffordshire Police investigation resulting in the conviction of another five men for drugs offences.

Jones, who used other aliases including Michael Smith, was initially arrested on 29 December 2015 and a search of his property in Moatbrook Lane, Codsall, took place.

Officers seized two firearms from the address - a double-barrelled shotgun and a sawn off shotgun – as well as 1.33kg of amphetamine, 22.9kg of benzocaine (a recognised cocaine cutting agent), 8.775 litres of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), and digital scales containing traces of cocaine.

A further 25kg package of benzocaine being shipped to Jones from Hong Kong was also intercepted by the UK Border Force at Coventry Airport.

One of the firearms recovered – a Sauer ‘side by side’ double-barrelled shotgun – was stolen in a burglary at a farm in Cocknage, near Stoke-on-Trent in June 2014.

The court heard that Jones was later spotted driving a Vauxhall Insignia near his home in Perton, south Staffordshire on 9 October 2017.

A police officer spotted Jones leaving his car and reaching behind a cable box in Roundway Down, Perton. Jones attempted to get away but was detained and his vehicle and home address in Cheshire Grove were searched where cocaine, bundles of cash and digital scales were recovered.

Detectives worked to piece together evidence from phone records, searches and interviews leading to the arrest of Ramandeep Singh, described as Jones’s ‘relief manager’ and street dealers Harpreet Johal, Jamie Sinclair, Colin Brown and Alex Wootton.

Jones, who enjoyed an expensive lifestyle including first-class trips to Dubai, entered guilty pleas at Stafford Crown Court in May for the following offences:
• Conspiracy to supply cocaine between 1 June 2015 and 31 December 2015.
• Possess with intent to supply amphetamine on 29 December 2015.
• Conspiracy to supply Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) between 1 June 2015 and 1 December 2015.
• Intentionally encourage /assist the commission of an either way offence (importing / offering for sale Benzocaine which was capable of encouraging / assisting the commission of an either way offence, namely the supply of cocaine) between 1 June 2015 and 31 December 2015.
• Possess a shotgun without certificate 29 December 2015.
• Possess self-loading / pump action smooth bore gun 29 December 2015.
• Conspiracy to import Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) between 1 June 2015 and 31 December 2015.
• Acquire / use / possess criminal property (£43,444.02) between 7 January 2015 and 6 May 2016.
• Conspiracy to import a firearm between 1 June 2015 and 31 December 2015.
• Possess with intent to supply Cocaine on 9 October 2018.

Colin Brown, Sinclair and Wootton all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Harpreet Johal was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and Ramandeep Singh was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and Gamma butylactone, both at Stafford Crown Court.

All except Jones were jailed on 30 September at Stafford Crown Court.

Detective Sergeant James Byrne, of Staffordshire Police, said: “Christopher Jones will be known to most people in south Staffordshire as Ricky Bates. He ran a drugs supply operation bringing cocaine and a host of other illegal substances to the streets of south Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

“It is concerning that he was found in possession of two firearms and was involved in a conspiracy to import further ones from Albania. We are glad the result of our detectives’ painstaking work in building this complex case is that Jones and his associates are now behind bars.”

Christopher Jones, 32, of Cheshire Grove, Perton, was sentenced to a total of 18.5 years broken down to:
• Conspiracy to supply cocaine between 1 June 2015 and 31 December 2015. Seven and a half years consecutive
• Possess with intent to supply cocaine on 9 October 2018. 12 months consecutive
• Possess with intent to supply amphetamine on 29 December 2015. 11 months (concurrent)
• Conspiracy to supply Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) between 1 June 2015 and 1 December 2015. Nine months consecutive
• Conspiracy to import Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) between 1 June 2015 and 31 December 2015. Nine months (concurrent)
• Intentionally encourage/assist the commission of an either way offence (importing/offering for sale Benzocaine which was capable of encouraging/assisting the commission of an either way offence, namely the supply of cocaine) between 1 June 2015 and 31 December 2015. Nine months consecutive
• Acquire/use/possess criminal property (£43,444.02) between 7 January 2015 and 6 May 2016. Two years (concurrent)
• Possess self-loading/pump action smooth bore gun 29 December 2015. Five years consecutive
• Conspiracy to import a firearm between 1 June 2015 and 31 December 2015. Three and a half years consecutive
• Possess a shotgun without certificate 29 December 2015. 22 months (concurrent)

Ramandeep Singh, 35, of Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to six years for conspiracy to supply cocaine and five months concurrent for conspiracy to supply gamma-butyrolactone.

Harpreet Johal, 49, of Duckhouse Road, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to five years three months for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Jamie Sinclair, 38, of Mansard Grove, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to four years four months for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Alex Wootton, 22, of Church Road, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to 20 months for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Colin Brown, 37, in prison, was sentenced to a further two months added to a four year six month sentence already being served for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Share

Is there a problem with this page?

Footer navigation

We use cookies on this site to give you a better, more personalised experience.

I'm fine with cookies I'd like to manage the cookies

Staffordshire Police

  • Contact us
  • News
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Campaigns
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookies
  • Terms and conditions
  • Accessibility

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information (FOI)
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Feedback

Partners

  • Police.uk
  • Ask the Police
  • Police and Crime Commissioner

Follow us on:

© Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.