To the outside world they were unemployed and 'living in a modest home' - the reality was very different
29.07.2023 - 07:53
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A gang spashed cash from a huge drug plot on holidays to Spain and Greece, a court has heard.
The group are thought to brought between £459,300 and £742,340 worth of cocaine, heroin, and crack cocaine into Crewe and surrounding areas from Liverpool over a 13 month period between October, 27 2021 and November, 10 2022.
At a hearing at Chester Crown Court on Friday (July 28), the court heard how the men used the criminal cash to buy designer goods and 'extravagant holidays', reports the Liverpool Echo.
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The investigation established Merold Stennett, 44, from Crewe as the ringleader of the group. Despite him having no bank account or job, he would use proceeds from the sale of drugs to fund a lavish lifestyle, living far beyond his means with designer items and expensive holidays abroad.
Russell Schofield, 32, also of Crewe, was found to be one of Stennett’s deputies, assisting in orchestrating the movement and supply of drugs. Stennett’s upstream supplier in Liverpool was William Gooley, 39, of Hankey Drive, Bootle, assisted by William Sutherland, 62, of Edmonton Close, Kirkdale and associate Andrew Williams, 39, of Chirkdale Street, Liverpool.
On October 27 2021, Cheshire Police executed multiple warrants in Crewe, during which police seized scales with traces of cocaine, benzocaine and cannabis found on them. Also found on the scales was Stennett’s DNA.
Between November 12, 2022 and July 1 2022, police established Gooley, Sutherland, and Williams had travelled to Crewe to meet with Stennett, and on occasions Schofield, in relation to drugs. During this phase of the conspiracy, police gathered evidence showing that both