Scarborough man who had £160k cash in his home is jailed as part of drugs conspiracy operation

Robert Clark, 29, was arrested at his home in Loders Green, Eastfield, where they found £160,000 in cash.

On Tuesday (February 4), Clark was jailed for nine years at Leeds Crown Court for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

He was one of nine people sentenced to a total of 40 years for their part in a drugs operation which operated across the north of England.

West Yorkshire Police’s precision serious and organised crime unit investigated the gang for nearly two years and between May and August 2018 and identified nine individuals who were operating across West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Lancashire and Humberside.

Officers found gang leader Mark Davey, 53, and his then partner Charlotte Brannan, 44, had control over a substantial amount of cocaine and heroin.

On May 4 2018, Brannan was stopped by officers on the M62 near to Gildersome who found one kilogram of high purity cocaine with an estimated street value of £70,000 in the foot well of the car.

Her house on Hartshead Lane, Cleckheaton was searched and police found one kilogram of high purity heroin and over £26,000 in cash.

It is believed Brannan was on her way to meet Clark in Scarborough.

On July 3 2018, Davey alongside Michael Wilson, aged 36, arranged to deliver 1kg of vacuum packed cannabis skunk to Shaun Smith, who had travelled from Hull.

Smith collected the cannabis and was spotted by police, who attempted to stop the car he was travelling in.

Smith evaded officers by driving the wrong way up the M62 slip road at the Chain Bar roundabout – nearly hitting a motorcyclist head on.

Officers found vacuum packed cannabis skunk concealed in a grass verge at the side of the motorway and the car abandoned at Hartshead Moor services.

He was then caught on CCTV at a taxi rank arranging with Davey to take a taxi back to Hull.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Walker, from West Yorkshire Police’s Precision Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “This was a substantial operation, conducted in collaboration with our neighbouring Police Forces, which has resulted in nine people being jailed for a significant period.

“The harm caused to individuals and communities as a result of drug dealing cannot be overstated.

"This is not a victimless crime and it is a priority for West Yorkshire Police in support of Programme Precision - the National strategy to tackle Serious Organised Crime.

“I hope the significant prison sentences they have received will serve to reassure communities in West Yorkshire, and further afield, of how seriously the police take the issue of drugs.

"It should also send a clear message to those who think they can get away with drug dealing, that they will not get away with profiting from this criminal trade.”

Sentences given at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday were:

Mark Davey, 53, of Maple Avenue, Bradford was jailed for 10 and a half years for conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine and cannabis.

Charlotte Brannan, 44, of Prospect Mill Meadows, Cleckheaton was jailed for seven years for conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine, and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Jamie Sherlock, 26, of Howarth Road, Bradford was jailed for seven years for conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin.

Robert Clark, 29, of Loders Green, Scarborough was jailed for nine years for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Damien Deakin, 32, of Whitehall Road, Bradford was jailed for five months (suspended for 18 months) for conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Shaun Smith, 38, of Portobello Street, Hull was jailed for six months (suspended for 12 months) for conspiracy to supply cannabis and dangerous driving.

Michael Wilson, 36, of Kilnwick Avenue, Hull was jailed for nine months for conspiracy to supply cannabis.

William Thomas, 27, of St Mary’s Road, Preston was jailed for two years for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Daniel McGowan, 28, of Westminster Road, Morecombe, was jailed for three years for conspiracy to supply cocaine.