TEN dealers peddling class A drugs on Salisbury's streets will spend a combined 32 years behind bars - with another ten receiving suspended jail sentences.

A total of 20 dealers arrested for selling cocaine and heroin in the city after a series of early morning police raids have now been sentenced in court.

They were snared during a two-day crackdown in July, when more than 100 Wiltshire Police officers raided addresses throughout Salisbury, making a total of 25 arrests in one of the largest operations the force has ever seen.

16 of those arrested received their sentences at Winchester Crown Court this week, with a further four sentenced over the summer.

Assistant chief constable Kier Pritchard said: "This operation was a significant undertaking by officers from all over the force – a huge amount of planning, organising and intelligence gathering was required to ensure the two days of raids were a success."

Inspector Pete Sparrow previously told the Journal the main focus of the operation was cuckooing - when drug dealers from big cities take over the drug supply in rural areas by exploiting vulnerable people.

Detective Inspector Paul Franklin said taking out so many dealers in just two days enabled police to disrupt and dismantle a number of chains of supply of class A drugs in the city.

He said: "A number of these people were from out of town, and had come to the city to exploit some of our most vulnerable drug users.

"By carrying out these raids, we were able to remove these people from our streets, and provide support to the most vulnerable members of our society."

Det Insp Franklin said he was satisfied with the sentences handed out and said the force remained dedicated to targeting drugs gangs.

Hayley Porter-Straw, district crown prosecutor for CPS Wessex, said Wiltshire Police's thorough investigation had built a strong case and a high number of guilty pleas.

Judge Keith Cutler praised the police operation and said he would write a commendation to the chief constable.
He linked the drug dealing to a number of "upsetting and unpleasant" assaults in the city, including two stabbings.
Judge Cutler said he had jailed gang members from London and Nottingham for "a long time", while handing several local addicts "on the fringes of the operation" suspended sentences so they could undergo drug abuse treatment.

The following pleaded guilty to class A drug supply offences in the summer and were sentenced in Winchester Crown Court on Monday and Tuesday:

  • Christian Quadjovie, age 18, of Barge Walk, Greenwich, sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment
  • Tomisin Ifelowa, age 19, of Williamson Close, Greenwich, sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment
  • Shavase Lemar-Taylor, age 27, of Propeller Crescent, Croydon, sentenced to 15 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months
  • Pellumb Buci, age 18, of Villas Road, London, sentenced to three years imprisonment
  • Jennifer Cooper, age 34, of no fixed abode, Bulford, sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years
  • Ollie Piper, age 25, of Barnard Street, Salisbury, sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years
  • Joshua Jackson, age 18, of Pitfield Crescent, London, sentenced to 15 months imprisonment
  • Brendan Cooper, age 39, of no fixed abode, Salisbury, sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment and subject to a five year criminal behaviour order
  • Justin Ling, aged 46, of Barnard Street, Salisbury, sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years
  • Wayne Dix, aged 37, of Barnard Street, Salisbury, sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months
  • Dean Cochrane, 36, of Rollestone Street, Salisbury, sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment
  • Timmy Thomas, aged 51, of Bishopdown Road, Salisbury, sentenced to 12 months suspended for 12 months
  • Tracey Robertson, aged 41, of Cherry Close, Salisbury, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for two years
  • Daniel Domanski, aged 30, of Carmelite Way, Salisbury, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for two years
  • Helen Hughes, aged 41, of Elm Grove Road, Salisbury, sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years
  • Mark Ledsome aged 43, of Southampton Road, Salisbury, sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment


The following had also been sentenced as part of the operation in previous hearings:

  • Maxi Andrews, aged 23, of Duke Street, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply class A drugs (heroin) and was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment 
  • Darren Davis, aged 22, of Highbury Road, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) and was sentenced to four years imprisonment 
  • Jason Dowding, aged 29, of St Albans Road, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs (heroin) and was sentenced to 24 months suspended for two years
  • Michael Hughes, aged 31, of Odstock Road, Salisbury, pleaded guilty to supply class A drugs (heroin) and was jailed for 40 months.

Stephen Maidment, aged 52 of Lovatt Green, Salisbury, is still due to be sentenced and a warrant has been issued for Shaun Green, aged 35, of Drake Close, Bishopdown and Jacqui Crotty, age 41, of Netherhampton Road, Salisbury, who both failed to appear in court.