Gangster gran stabbed to death after raiding house with weapons to settle drug debt

24.12.2022 - 19:25 / dailyrecord.co.uk

A drug dealer gran was stabbed to death out of 'self defence' after she stormed into a property with a machete and demanded a £120 debt. Debbie Twist, 47 who was the head of her family's drug ring was killed after she raided the property with her son, Jordan Winstanley and Robbie Arnold, who worked for them, the Mirror reports.

The trio smashed the back window and entered the property in Wigan on March 17, 2019 wearing masks to collect the drug debt from an innocent father of a customer who had failed to pay. The victim defended himself with a knife after he was threatened with a hammer and a machete, Bolton Crown Court heard.

He was slashing in the direction of the intruders to protect himself when he stabbed Debbie Twist in the left side of her chest. GMP also confirmed that the home owner's pregnant partner was threatened with a firearm during the attack.

The 47-year-old gangster gran later died from her injuries in hospital. The victim who was originally arrested for murder was let go after it was ruled by CPS advice and authority of the Chief Crown Prosecutor that he acted out of 'householder defence'.

Prosecutor John Richards told the court that the victim also suffered multiple injuries to his nose and hands during the attack and has been left traumatised by the terrifying incident which he still suffers flashbacks from three years later. After the trial, Winstanley was found guilty of aggravated burglary and was handed a six year prison sentence.

Robbie Arnold, 23, was cleared of aggravated burglary but the jury found him guilty of being in possession of an imitation firearm on the evening of the incident. The family run drug ring was commandeered by Winstanley and his mum with the help of his sister, Bethany Twist,