Members of an organised crime gang, responsible for the large-scale supply of illegal drugs in Runcorn, have been sentenced to more than 25 years in prison.
Six men and two women were convicted following an investigation by Cheshire Police into the large-scale supply of crack cocaine and heroin in Murdishaw, over 13 months.
The defendants appeared at Chester Crown Court for sentencing yesterday, having previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
Jail sentences
They received the following sentences:
• Scott Doran (35) of HMP Altcourse – nine years
• Darren Garbe (24) of Fenton Green, Liverpool – four years
• David Keegan (52) of Nortonwood Lane, Runcorn – three years
• Marcus Pike (22) of HMP Altcourse – three years and four months (pictured bottom, left)
• Samantha Bushall (37) of HMP Styal – three years and nine months
• Michelle Bushall (59) Mooring Close – nine months suspended
• Stephen Redmond (22) of Talisman Close, Runcorn – three years and four months (pictured bottom, right)
• Zachery Rizzotti (22) of St Andrew Road, Liverpool – two years suspended years
During the sentencing hearing officers produced evidence from their investigation that took place between August 2021 and September 2022.
The investigation established that Doran (pictured top left) acted as the ringleader of the group based in Murdishaw.
Garbe (pictured top, middle), Doran’s brother, was evidenced to be one of Doran’s deputies, assisting in orchestrating the movement and supply of drugs.
Keegan (pictured top, right) worked as a taxi driver in a bid to operate under the radar, helping to facilitate the supply line under Doran and Garbe’s command.
Samantha Bushell (pictured bottom, middle) and her mother, Michelle Bushell, would assist with money laundering for the OCG and for Samantha’s then partner, Doran. They also allowed their home to be the hub for the line to operate from.
Two mobile numbers linked to the county lines team were identified sending daily bulk messages advertising the sale of class A drugs in the Runcorn area.
The defendants were identified following a number of enquiries, including telecoms analysis, CCTV, and ANPR.
In the early hours of December 14, 2021, 200 officers from Cheshire Police with support from Merseyside Police, raided 14 addresses across Runcorn, Widnes, and Merseyside.
All eight defendants were subsequently arrested and charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
“We were hot on their trail”
Detective inspector Ali White said: “I welcome the sentences handed to Doran and his associates, who have collectively been put behind bars for more than 25 years.
“This OCG thought they could operate under the radar and establish a cocaine and heroin supply line into Murdishaw, with drugs being openly supplied in the community.
“Little did they know we were hot on their trail, gathering a catalogue of evidence against them so that the defendants had no choice but to enter a guilty plea.
“Thanks to the hard work of a dedicated team of officers throughout a lengthy investigation, these individuals are now facing the consequences of their actions and a large amount of class A drugs has been taken off the streets.
“Illegal drugs can have a devastating impact on not only drug users, but the community around them.
“In Runcorn, we are doing all we can to stop drug activity on our streets to make the town a safer place to live while also making it extremely difficult for these gangs to operate.
“We will always act on any information about drug activity provided to us and would urge anyone who believes this activity is happening near to them, to please contact Cheshire Police.”
A county line is operated by an organised crime group who use a mobile phone, known as a ‘line’ or a ‘graft’ to extend their criminal activity business into new locations – usually from a city into rural areas.
