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Eighteen members of County lines drugs gang sentenced

Devon and Cornwall Police Left to right: Georgie Keating, Benjamin Burns, Christy Keating, Thomas KeatingDevon and Cornwall Police
Georgie Keating, Benjamin Burns, Christy Keating, and Thomas Keating were all jailed for 10 years or more

Eighteen members of a drug gang that used a motorhome to target seaside towns in Devon and Cornwall have been handed a range of jail sentences of up to 12 years.

Exeter Crown Court heard the gang supplied Class A drugs with an estimated street value of £1.38m.

There were more than 30 drug county lines runs from Liverpool to the south west over 15 months to September 2022.

Judge Anna Richardson said drugs had a "devastating impact" on society.

She said the gang had exploited addicts in Devon and Cornwall, recruiting them through offering free drugs or pressure to pay off debts.

Alamy The motor home used by the drugs gangAlamy
The gang used a motorhome to tour the south west as they built up networks

The dealers used the motorhome to tour the south west as they built up networks in Exmouth, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Torbay, Ilfracombe, Penzance, Camborne and Hayle, the trial heard.

The conspiracy was based in Liverpool, and recruited couriers who made almost weekly trips to the west country.

The trial heard they set up the first network in Exmouth in 2021, before moving on to Torbay and Cornwall.

The operation was so successful its leaders were spending half their time in Ibiza by the time police closed it down in the autumn of 2022, the court heard.

The 20-month plot involved 21 men and women and 33 courier trips, which brought an estimated 8.8kg of heroin and 6.6kg of cocaine with a total value of £1.38m.

Devon and Cornwall Police Some of the money seized from the gangDevon and Cornwall Police
As well as the drugs, police seized about £30,000 in cash and were able to trace tens of thousands of pounds passing through the gang leaders' bank accounts

Dealers stayed at Airbnbs, leisure parks and holiday camp sites, including one on the Lizard, the court was told.

The leader of the conspiracy was 25-year-old Benjamin Burns, who made 15 trips to the south west, including several with his girlfriend.

He bought a specially-adapted phone, which hid its true number and was intended to stop police identifying him.

The next three most important gang members, the court heard, were Thomas Keating, his son Christy Keating and his cousin Georgie Keating, who all made frequent trips to Devon and Cornwall.

Police involved in the sting, codenamed Operation Harbinger Two, traced more than 20,000 messages sent to users in which drugs were offered, the court heard.

Lawyers representing all the defendants said they were drawn into dealing by their youth, naivety, drug addiction, debt, or difficult personal circumstances.

Devon and Cornwall Police Heroin parcels seized from the gang by policeDevon and Cornwall Police
An estimated 8.8kg of heroin was brought into the region during a 20-month period

Over the course of the two-day sentencing hearing, 13 people were handed sentences who had previously admitted or were convicted by jurors of conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine.

They were:

  • Benjamin Burns, 25, of Prescot - 10 years and six months.
  • Georgie Keating, 24, of Liverpool - 11 years and five months.
  • Christy Keating, 24, of Cheshire - 10 years and five months.
  • Thomas Keating, 43, of Liverpool - 10 years.
  • Kevin Mallen, 41, of Liverpool - six years and four months.
  • Christopher Mallen, 65, of Liverpool - six years.
  • Jamie Marshall, 22, of London - six years.
  • Jake Myers, 23, of Liverpool - three years and six months.
  • James Casey, 45, of Colchester - two years suspended for 24 months. Also 350 hours of unpaid work, and 20 rehabilitation days - including thinking skills courses and 12 mental health treatment sessions.
  • Taylor Burns, 31, of Lancashire - five years and two months.
  • Adrian Mulcahy, 36, of Exmouth - two years suspended for 24 months. Residence requirement at rehabilitation centre for 14 months, or as directed by probation.
  • Dillon Ballard, 28, of Exmouth - two years suspended for 24 months. 300 hours unpaid work, a thinking skills programme, and 15 rehabilitation days
  • Richard Morsley, 43, of Torrington - four years and six months.

Also sentenced was Lee Paton, 34, of Liverpool, who pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply amphetamine and heroin. He was sentenced to three years and 10 months.

Maggie Burns, 21, of Prescot, and Dannielle Marshall, 27, of Orpington, both pleaded guilty to money laundering and assisting an organised criminal gang.

Burns was sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years, with 20 rehabilitation days and 12 mental health treatment sessions.

Marshall was sentenced to 18 months suspended for 24 months, with a curfew for four months between 19:00 and 07:00, and 20 rehabilitation days - including help with mental health.

Joanna Buchanan, 49, of Shaldon, pleaded guilty to production of cannabis and assisting an OCG. Buchanan was sentenced to one year, suspended for 24 months, 100 hours of unpaid work at rate of one day a week, and 20 days of rehabilitation activity.

Benjamin Hopkins, 46, of Shaldon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin, production and possession with intent to supply cannabis and possession of cocaine. He was sentenced to two years, suspended for 24 months, 300 hours of unpaid work, and a two-month curfew between 19:00 and 07:00.

The final three members of the gang are set to be sentenced on Monday.

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