New life on hold as cocaine dealer jailed for three years (From The Northern Echo)

New life on hold as cocaine dealer jailed for three years (From The Northern Echo): "Ian Stabler had bought tickets for a new life in New Zealand when police raided his home in Darlington, in January, last year.
He has now been jailed for three years for drugs offences, and his conviction means he is unlikely to be allowed into New Zealand, a court was told.
Newly-wed Stabler, 46, and his wife, Suzanne, 41, were arrested at their home in Wilkes Street, after an undercover operation.
Officers befriended dealers who operated in the town centre at weekends, and bought drugs from them, Teesside Crown Court heard."

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Anthony John Mulraney was jailed for 18 months.

Anthony John Mulraney sealed his own fate after he couldn't be bothered to speak to a probation officer before he was sentenced.The 32-year-old refused to co-operate with any order which could have kept him out of prison - even after a judge urged his advocate to "talk some sense into him".With no previous convictions for drug dealing and only one for possession, jail was "not a forgone conclusion", said Judge Les Spittle.But Mulraney would not contribute to a pre-sentence report and insisted from the dock: "I don't want a report."
Judge Spittle was left with no option but to lock him up at Teesside Crown Court.
Mulraney was caught with drugs at the home he shared with his partner and their young son, Prosecutor Ian Mullarkey told how police raided Mulraney's home on Greencroft Walk, Park End, Middlesbrough on April 24 last year. A total of 447 diazepam tablets were found stashed in various parts of the house. They included 375 pills in make-up boxes, 45 on a glass cabinet in the living room, 15 in a biscuit tin in the kitchen and one bag in Mulraney's trouser pocket. A small quantity of cannabis was also discovered.On arrest Mulraney told police, referring to his partner: "It's all mine. She had nothing to do with it." His text messages pointed to dealing.Mulraney initially told officers in interview the tablets were for his own use, using 200 tablets a week, then said he was minding 200 pills for a friend, his supplier.He later said he bought 1,000 tablets for £150 and sold them for 50p each, spending profits on clothes and to fund his own addiction.Mulraney, now of Melsonby Avenue, Park End, admitted possessing diazepam with intent to supply and possession of cannabis. He had a long criminal record with offences of dishonesty. Brian Russell, defending, pointed towards Mulraney's lack of previous similar offending and his guilty plea.Judge Les Spittle said he did not know whether Mulraney had problems which might merit an approach other than imprisonment.
He told the defendant: "It's by your own request that you don't seek this court to have a pre-sentence report prepared upon you to give this court further information."Even if you did have a particular problem using drugs yourself, your principal motivation was gain, financial gain."Mulraney was jailed for 18 months.

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John Wallas the "controlling mind" at the heart of a planned and organised commercial enterprise in drugs

John Wallas the "controlling mind" at the heart of a planned and organised commercial enterprise in drugs.The 29-year-old, of Knebworth Court, Ingleby Barwick, was jailed for eight years at Teesside Crown Court.Officers found drugs worth between £71,000 and £299,000 when they raided a flat he rented on Hadleigh Walk, Ingleby Barwick.They discovered more than four kilos of amphetamine with a maximum street value of £260,000 and cocaine worth a maximum of £39,130.More than 25kg of bulking agents were found along with a cocaine-flecked mixing bowl and other evidence of cocaine production, such as gas masks.The judge told Teesside Crown Court yesterday how Wallas drew others into the drugs plot, including his younger brother Mark and cousin Craig Francis.Mark Wallas, 25, was sent to prison for three years. The judge said he played a limited but important and necessary role in drugs distribution.The police stopped him driving on the A689 towards Hartlepool on the afternoon of October 30 last year, said prosecutor Christopher Attwooll.
A bag containing £38,260 cash was found in the passenger seat footwell of the Volkswagen Passat. Wallas had keys to the flat on Hadleigh Walk.The Wallas brothers, who had no previous convictions, both admitted conspiring to supply cocaine. Mark Wallas also admitted possessing criminal property - the cash.Francis, 26, was the only one of five men not to be sent away.At his home on Victoria Road, Thornaby on November 20, police found digital scales and a metal safe carrying cocaine traces, and almost half a kilo of mixing agents.He paid for an order for 50kg of cutting agents which were delivered to Mark Wallas' home on Trent Avenue, Thornaby.
The judge said he played a very limited role and gave him a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years with 200 hours' unpaid work.David Breeze, 25, of The Birches, Middlesbrough, received a two-year prison term after he was "heavily involved" in amphetamine production.And Lee Cope, 24, of Marton Road, Middlesbrough, was locked up for 25 months. The judge said he was "lawless and feckless" and took a "depressingly casual" attitude to preparing the Class B drug.All five men admitted conspiracy to supply amphetamine in October and November last year. Francis also admitted cocaine possession.Police kept the men under observation and listened to telephone conversations in John Wallas' BMW with references to drugs supply and amphetamine production.The investigation was part of 'Operation Kiev', a long-running covert operation by the Cleveland Police Organised Crime Unit which led to another drugs gang being locked up for 22 years in April.Defence barristers tried to argue that the kilos of low-purity illegal narcotics were "very small quantities".
They said the men acted out of character and showed regret and remorse for being involved in areas of the "despicable enterprise" for a short time, often due to personal and financial difficulties.Kevin Metzger, defending John Wallas, said: "This was an aberration in what was otherwise an exemplary life."John Hurlock, representing, Mark Wallas, said the educated ex-RAF man and charity worker ran an errand for his brother: "He's lost everything that mattered to him as a result of that temporary loss of sense."Francis' counsel Andrew Turton said the former care home worker innocently stored items at his home as a favour, thinking the chemicals were for body-building.Now the men face having cash and assets stripped from them as proceeds of crime.Detective Chief Inspector Rob Donaghy, head of serious and organised crime in Cleveland Police, said today: "This was a well-organised drug manufacturing and distribution outfit making significant amounts of money."The sentences passed send out a strong message to those involved in dealing drugs on the streets of Teesside that we will not tolerate it."A team of detectives worked over a significant period of time to painstakingly piece together the evidence."We are relentless in our pursuit of drug dealers. We will target these people and we will use any lawful tactics to bring them to justice."

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Mark Weston, 34, bought £115 of cocaine

Mark Weston, 34, bought £115 of cocaine after striking it lucky with his bet.But his luck ran out when police raided a house in Erskine Road, Hartlepool, the very same day and found the drugs.Weston, of Glamis Walk, Hartlepool, admitted one charge of possessing a class A drug on March 18.Patricia Mancina, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, said police recovered 9.5 grams of cocaine with an extimated value of between £379 and £474.She told the court: "He and his partner were there and when asked if there were any illegal substances he handed to police seven bags of white powder."In interview he said he had bought it that day for £115 and it was for his own use."He had treated himself because he had had a gambling win that day."Paul Cleasby, mitigating, told the court how Weston was battling to overcome a drug addiction and was on prescribed methadone.He said: "He admitted to police that the cocaine was his and co-operated with police during the search of the premises.
"For many years he has struggled with an addiction to heroin."He is now on prescribed medication to try and wean himself off drugs."The probation service is anxious to address his thinking about illegal drugs. They are keen for him to complete an offending programme."Weston was given a six month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, and an 18 month community order with supervision.
Judge Peter Bowers told him: "I appreciate you have been trying hard to rid yourself of your habit."Methadone is possibly helping you. But that does not excuse you taking on cocaine as an additive to your methadone."This sentence is meant to be a reminder to you that unless you get your act sorted out you are going to end up in prison."

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Jamie Tindall’s mobile phone was examined after he was arrested in a raid on a house on Brinewells Green, Middlesbrough

Jamie Tindall’s mobile phone was examined after he was arrested in a raid on a house on Brinewells Green, Middlesbrough on March 28 last year.Officers found text messages indicating dealing in cocaine, Ecstasy and cannabis, prosecutor Christopher Attwooll told Teesside Crown Court. One said: “You fancy bringing up some sniff?”
In the messages, Tindall was asked: “Do you sell drugs?” He replied: “Oh yes.” He was told: “Bit daft when you get caught.” To which he responded: “Chance you take.”
Tindall, 20, also texted: “I am in my prime making money.”A bag of 15 cocaine rocks, worth about £320, was discarded during the police search, the court heard. Months later Tindall was caught with a cocaine wrap. He was bailed, absconded and arrested again, this time in possession of cannabis.Tindall, of Hartington Road, Stockton, admitted being concerned in making offers to supply the Class A and C drugs, possession charges and failing to attend court. He had no previous drugs crimes.Christopher Dunn, defending, said Tindall was very intelligent and could have done much with his life. But he was “thwarted” by a significant stammer, for which he was bullied at school and attacked in custody. Drug use “numbed the pain of blocked opportunity” and led him into the drug culture, he said.Tindall supplied skunk cannabis to friends, was asked to supply Ecstasy, used cocaine and supplied friends from his “personal stock”. Mr Dunn said: “His motivation was not a commercial one.”
Regarding the texts, he added: “He’s trying to big himself up. It’s quite clear this man has got nothing. He was living in a caravan in somebody’s drive.”Judge Peter Fox QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough told Tindall: “I must take at face value what was described on your mobile telephone. Were you an older man I would be giving you four or five years.”Given Tindall’s youth, the judge locked him up for three-and-a-half years.

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Michelle Robinson, 35, was allowed to walk out of Teesside Crown Court today after pleading guilty to producing cannabis at her Hartlepool home.

Michelle Robinson, 35, was allowed to walk out of Teesside Crown Court today after pleading guilty to producing cannabis at her Hartlepool home. "Had this been a commercial operation, I'm afraid you would have been going away for some considerable time."Judge Tony BriggsProsecutor Sharon Elves told the court that the mother-of-three had suffered polio as a toddler and had resorted to using the illegal drug to combat the pain. She said police raided her home in West View Road in the town in May, and found four bags of cannabis bush in the property, along with a sophisticated drug farm in an out-house in the garden, which contained 41 plants.
The court was told she had got sick of using street dealers to buy the drug, so decided to grow her own. She applied to a bank for a car loan and used the cash to have the out-house built. She then sent abroad for the cannabis seeds and began cultivating it herself, purely for her own use. The specialist lighting and ventilation system required for the plants to grow ran up a quarterly electricity bill of £1,000, however, Ms Robinson obtained the power legally and paid the bill herself. "She contracted polio at two and by the age of 18 she started using cannabis to relieve the symptoms," said Ms Elves. "She was unwilling to frequent dealers." In her defence, lawyer Annelise Haugstad said the drugs were purely for her own use and said the circumstances of the case were not usual for people growing cannabis plants. She said Ms Robinson rarely left the house and was allergic to a number of pain killers, so had resorted to producing the cannabis plants. Judge Tony Briggs said it was a sad case and said it was rare for people who cultivated cannabis plants to obtain the electricity legally and then pay the bill. "It's very unfortunate to see someone in your position in Crown Court," he said. "However, I see your medical history is unusual," he said. He handed down an 18 month community order, with 18 months supervision. He added: "Had this been a commercial operation, I'm afraid you would have been going away for some considerable time." He ordered the plants be destroyed.

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Michael Andrew Neave, 42, of Waverley Terrace, Hartlepool, was sentenced to three years in prison

Michael Andrew Neave, 42, of Waverley Terrace, Hartlepool, was sentenced to three years in prison.He appeared in court on September 8, and admitted 21 charges of supplying heroin and six of supplying crack cocaine.Michael Neave.The drug addict was caught dealing £10 and £20 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine between September 26 and November 14 last year, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Paul Cleasby, defending, said: "The defendant received no financial rewards for his part in these matters, it was about feeding his own habit."Judge Les Spittle said: "You were dealing in order to fund your own and your associates' habits.
"It is quite clear to me you were dealing on a daily basis but it was to fund your own habits."The judge jailed Neave for a total of three years for all offences.

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Teesside Crown Court heard Norman Gary Hanley supplied the two undercover officers with more than £600 worth of heroin in 12 different deals

Teesside Crown Court heard Norman Gary Hanley supplied the two undercover officers with more than £600 worth of heroin in 12 different deals between November and December last year.Norman HanleyOn August 8, the court heard the officers would ring Hanley and arrange to meet at public places including on Raby Road, Grainger Street, Whitby Street and at his home. Many of the transactions were captured on CCTV.Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said: "Initial contact was made from an introduction by another drug user. "On all occasions throughout this operation the defendant was seen to turn up and when he supplied police had more wraps than he was handing over."
Hanley, of Church Street, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of supplying heroin at an earlier hearing.Judge Brian Forster QC said: "The courts have to make it clear to people in this area that those who become involved in the supply of heroin are committing a serious offence and can expect a significant sentence of imprisonment."

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Phillip Quinn was yesterday convicted of supplying pal Michael Neave with crack cocaine during a swoop on drug dealers.

Phillip Quinn was yesterday convicted of supplying pal Michael Neave with crack cocaine during a swoop on drug dealers.Neave called Quinn, 41, and arranged to buy some of the highly addictive drug for a supposed user, who unbeknown to either of them was a undercover policeman.The conversation was recorded on a secret wire and the officer drove to Quinn's home in Sheriff Street, Hartlepool.The policeman watched as Neave and Quinn climbed into a car before Neave returned with a £20 wrap of crack cocaine.Quinn denied selling him the drug and claimed Neave must have had it already or got it from somewhere else.But a jury of eight women and four men at Teesside Crown Court took just over 30 minutes to unanimously find him guilty of the offence.The court earlier heard Neave complained after buying the drug how he had difficulty opening the wrap because of the way it had been tightly tied.
He referred to Quinn as "Philly 50 Knots".The deal took place in Sheriff Street on November 9 last year during Cleveland Police's Operation Beckford and Quinn was arrested when officers searched his house on May 1.Neave, 42, of Waverley Terrace, Hartlepool, who Quinn had known since their schooldays, was sentenced to three years in prison in September.He had admitted 27 counts of supplying Class A drugs, including the crack cocaine sold to Quinn, between September 26 and November 14 last year.Quinn was remanded in custody until he is sentenced on a date still to be fixed.

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Stephen Proudman was jailed for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug on March 15 with intent to supply

Stephen Proudman then approached them and he said that he had drugs - cocaine - for friends.He had two bags and he said he had been given the smaller bag for looking after the larger amount and £450.He said he was looking after the cocaine for a friend who had gone into town and had not wanted to take them with him, Teesside Crown Court was told.Shaun Grainger, defending, said Proudman, 22, had never been in trouble before and he was approached by someone who he knew was a street dealer and from who he had bought cocaine before.Proudman was asked to look after the drugs for the evening and to hand them back the following morning.Mr Grainger added: “He is very much at the bottom of any supply line.“He has shown remorse and he comes across as a polite young man who regrets what he has done. He has taken steps to address his social drug taking and to distance himself from the man who asked him to look after the drugs.“He is not someone who is likely to ever trouble these courts again.”Judge Michael Taylor told Proudman: “You appear to be a decent young man.
“You are asked by your dealer to mind the drugs and his stash, and you know that people are going to profit from that and it causes misery to others.“But those who are involved in any way, shape or form in the supply chain of Class A drugs know that prison is inevitable.”Proudman of Rousham Gardens, Middlesbrough, was jailed for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug on March 15 with intent to supply.

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Stephen Elsdon twice supplied crack cocaine to an undercover officer

Stephen Elsdon twice supplied crack cocaine to an undercover officer during a Cleveland Police operation to target peddlers in Hartlepool last year.
The 38-year-old was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence with probation service supervision. The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, QC, also ordered that Elsdon undergoes a drug rehabilitation programme over the next two years. He told him: "You are one of the few - very, very few - people who get convicted of supplying Class A drugs who don't go straight to prison.
"You have got a great deal of ability and a great deal going for you, and you are only 38. There is a lot yet you can do with your life, but its down to you."
Teesside Crown Court heard that Elsdon was asked by an associate who became friends with the undercover officer to find crack cocaine.
The pal - jailed last month three years for supplying heroin to the officer - was one of the main targets of Operation Beckford, but Elsdon was not.
Paul Cleasby, mitigating, said Elsdon was a conduit, but since his arrest, he has become drug-free and found a job in the demolition industry. Elsdon, of Masefield Road, Hartlepool, admitted two charges of supplying Class A drugs - on October 24 and November 2 last year. Mr Cleasby told the court: "He recognises the offence in which he became embroiled were serious. He is making every effort to address his underlying issues."

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Andrew Duff, from Darlington, was jailed for three years, and North Yorkshire pair Paul Rogers and Claire Trainor were sentenced to 18 months each.

Andrew Duff, from Darlington, was jailed for three years, and North Yorkshire pair Paul Rogers and Claire Trainor were sentenced to 18 months each. Teesside Crown Court heard that Duff was one of the best customers of the sprawling network, and had once spent more than £1,000 for a delivery. Along with addicts such as Rogers and Trainor, he would meet couriers at Darlington railway station after they got off trains from King’s Cross. Some of the delivery workers would also take taxis to Teesside to supply dealers there, who then sold to others from County Durham and Tyneside. A series of raids involving more than 400 police officers – some armed – were carried out in six force areas across the country in April last year. Police chiefs were concerned that the threat of turf wars and gun crime could follow crack cocaine to the region as it had in places such as Nottingham. After months of surveillance and intelligence-gathering, the raids – part of Operation Elland – were carried out with help from the Metropolitan Police. Duff, 29, of Estoril Road, Rogers, 25, of Gatherley Moor Farm, Gilling West, Richmond, and Trainor, 28, of Moor Road, Melsonby, were arrested. Imran Ashgar, from Tyneside, his girlfriend Gemma McCabe, and Chester-le-Street man Jai Smith were among the others held after the swoops. Ashgar, 32, of Beechcroft Avenue, Newcastle, admitted using criminal property and possessing criminal property – almost £53,000 – last summer. McCabe, 26, of Linley Court, Stockton, admitted possessing crack cocaine, and Smith, 28, of Primrose Gardens, admitted three counts of possessing heroin. Ashgar was given a 12- month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision, and was ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work. Recovering addict Smith was sentenced to a 12-month community order with supervision, and told to take part in a drug rehabilitation course. The court heard that the money found during the raid at Ashgar’s home was not the proceeds of selling drugs, but had been stolen from the family firm.
Christopher Knox, mitigating, said Ashgar had badly let down his family, but his father and brother – also partners in the business – did not want him jailed. Duff ’s barrister, Adrian Dent, told the court that he accepted he benefited from the supply of drugs, but said: “It was low-level activity.” Yvonne Taylor, for Rogers, said the father-of-two had a serious heroin habit, but has been drug-free for several weeks and has no association with users. Paul Cleasby, for mother-ofthree Trainor, said she had been out of trouble since her arrest and was seeking help for her heroin addiction. Judge Spittle told the pair: “You went into it with your eyes open... for those involved to the extent you were in the distribution of Class A drugs, the courts have got to mark that in a deterrent way.”
Duff, Rogers and Trainor pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between January 2005 and April last year. The leader of the network, Jamaican hard-man Albert Thoms, and all but one of his couriers, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. The final man, Wycliffe Clarke, also from London, pleaded guilty to a charge of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. McCabe admitted possessing Class A drugs on the basis she travelled to Middlesbrough to buy them – spending more than £1,700 a week. She went on the run after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing, and a warrant has been issued for her arrest. Ewan Duff, for Smith, said he had not offended again since his arrest and was doing well in his bid to beat his addiction. The hub of the organisation, Claudine Neil – known as Donna because that was the name she gave to customers – was jailed for two years in June after she admitted her part in the conspiracy.

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Stuart Wood shoplifter was told by a judge that he was being locked up as a favour after being caught for a fresh spate of offences.

shoplifter was told by a judge that he was being locked up as a favour after being caught for a fresh spate of offences.Judge Peter Bowers told hopeless drug-addict Stuart Wood: "By the time you come out, you will be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, as they say."After jailing Wood for two-and-a-half years, the judge added: "Get yourself on a drug-free wing, if you can, and sort your life out."The only thing I can do is give you a sufficiently long sentence so by the time you come out you won't have the same dependency upon drugs."Teesside Crown Court heard that Wood went on a month-long shoplifting spree shortly after being freed from jail in April for similar offences.The 30-year-old racked up 14 offences in and around his home town after repeatedly being caught and given bail either by police or magistrates.
In all, he committed 11 thefts from shops and one burglary, failed to surrender to court and failed to give a sample for a drugs test.The shoplifting was carried out at convenience stores in Stockton as well as nearby Thornaby and Norton, and included aftershave and alcohol.Alasdair Campbell, prosecuting, told the court that the burglary was at a Stockton post office after Wood sneaked into a store room.
Wood was caught on closed circuit television cameras at most of the shops, and the total value of the goods he stole was £472, said Mr Campbell.He was twice arrested after each spate, but was freed on bail either after being quizzed or put before Teesside Magistrates' Court.The judge questioned him being given bail, and said: "For goodness sake, he had committed ten thefts. They should have given him the key to the shop."He told Wood, of Cheshire Road, Norton: "It is dismal reading, this record of yours, but I have got some sympathy for your plight."You are clearly a drug addict and the only way you can feed your habit is by stealing.
"I understand every time you are given bail there is an inevitability your drug craving is requiring you to do something to get drugs."
Peter Wishlade, mitigating, said jobless Wood got involved in drugs after the death of his grandmother when he was 18, and had a £500-a-week habit.He added: "While I don't want to criticise the magistrates, he would not be appearing for this catalogue of offences had he not been given bail."Wood admitted all the charges.

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Paul Edward Russon charged with possessing large quantities of cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis resin with intent to supply.

Paul Edward Russon, 34, of Bickersteth Close, Stockton, is charged with possessing large quantities of cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis resin with intent to supply.
He is also charged with five firearms offences - possessing two prohibited weapons, a Beretta 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a .38 revolver, and possessing a silencer and 9mm and .38 rounds of ammunition without a certificate.
Russon did not enter any pleas to the charges as he appeared at Teesside Crown Court via video link to Holme House Prison in Stockton today.No bail application was made during the short hearing and Judge Peter Bowers remanded Russon in custody until a plea and case management hearing on August 29.Russon was arrested in connection with the police search of a home on Bickersteth Road on June 24.Officers found handguns, ammunition and quantities of cannabis, amphetamine and cocaine believed to have a potential street value of more than £1 million.

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Michael Hunt, 30, threw a package containing 24.3g of heroin, worth £2,430 on the streets, out of a window,

Michael Hunt’s home in Haswell Court, Stockton, was searched by police on April 19 last year and Hunt, 30, threw a package containing 24.3g of heroin, worth £2,430 on the streets, out of a window, Teesside Crown Court heard.Digital scales and 11 pieces of paper carrying his phone number were also found, said prosecutor Harry Hadfield.While on bail during long delays bringing the case to court, Hunt, pictured, was caught with heroin on April 1 this year.He ran from police in Talbot Street, Stockton, and discarded three packages in a garden. They contained a total of 280.6g of heroin worth £14,180.A drugs squad officer believed only a trusted member of the illicit drugs market would be caught with that amount, the court heard. Hunt had some scales in his pocket and 2.3g of cannabis.He admitted two charges of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply and one of possessing a Class C drug.He had previous convictions, but none for drug dealing.Brian Russell, for Hunt, said Hunt was intimidated to transport and store drugs, gaining only drugs for his own use.The judge, Recorder Henry Prosser, accepted he was not at the top of the hierarchy, but dealing was taking place at Hunt’s house and the offences were “hugely serious”.Hunt’s partner at the time of the first raid, Leanne Saunders, 26, a Stockton Council drug support worker, who also worked with drugs group PANIC, was given an 18-month conditional discharge with £100 costs.She admitted possession of 0.02g of heroin - traces found in a Kinder Egg. It was accepted she relapsed into heroin use and was not involved in dealing.

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Andrew Monarch extradited from Spain

Andrew Monarch left the United Kingdom and lived on a false passport after Mark Sayer was shot dead on the doorstep of his home near Redcar, east Cleveland, in 1996.He was extradited from Spain last year after being arrested in October 2005 by Spanish authorities on suspicion of conspiracy to murder Mr Sayer, a court heard.
Four other men were convicted and jailed for their parts in the death of the 22-year-old including the gunman Karl Henderson and getaway driver Edward Winter.
The killing was organised by Middlesbrough drug dealer Zarin Sherrif after his supplies of cannabis were stolen, Franz Muller, QC, told Teesside Crown Court today.A fourth man, Joeseph Marshall, was convicted of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent, but cleared of conspiracy to murder.Sherrif, then aged 33, and of Ayresome Park Road, was convicted of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent.Winter and recently-freed convict Henderson - recruited by Marshall in July 1996 after a meeting in Blyth, Northumberland - were convicted of murder.Marshall, from Amble, Northumberland, originally asked Henderson and another pal to meet some friends in Middlesbrough to discuss "business", the court heard.But when Marshall later took them to a beach and dug up a thick black bin bag containing a gun and cartridges, the other man pulled out and Winter was recruited to drive.The jury was told that Mr Sayer was assasinated after answering the door at his rented home in Staithes Road, Dormanstown, on the evening of September 1.Mr Muller said the killer and the driver dumped the weapon - a Winchester pump-action shotgun - near the A66 as they fled north, and abandoned their car in Stockton.Mr Monarch, who lived in Whorlton Grove, Redcar, at the time and was a friend of Sherrif's, is suspected of picking the pair up and taking them to a Middlesbrough hotel for the night.Mr Muller told the jury that phone and pager records showed there was contact between Mr Monarch and Sherrif immediately after the murder as well as Sherrif and public call boxes in Stockton.It was also claimed Mr Monarch received several pager messages from Henderson and Winter's hotel room the following morning - one expressing "a certain amount of pleasure at what had been achieved".Mr Muller told the jury that Winter was arrested the following day, Henderson was found in Berkshire five days after that, and Sherrif a further three days later.Mr Monarch's solicitor arranged a meeting with the police the following day, but he failed to show up and was not traced despite "considerable efforts" by detectives.After finally being found in Spain and arrested by officers from Cleveland Police last July, Mr Monarch told them: "I've had nothing whatever to do with any murder at any time in my life."
Mr Monarch denies conspiracy to murder and the trial - scheduled to last more than two weeks - will continue tomorrow.

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Simon Jenkins jailed for six years at Teesside Crown Court ,Mark Leighton was locked up for four years

Simon Jenkins and Mark Leighton as key players in "the distribution of misery" after handling almost two thirds of a kilo of the class A drug.Jenkins, 26, of Selby Grove, Hartlepool, was jailed for six years at Teesside Crown Court, after a jury found him guilty of possessing a class A drug with intent to supply.Leighton, 44, pleaded guilty to a similar offence and was locked up for four years.Recorder Simon Wood said both were "relatively high in the chain of command".He said: "Even if it was as labourers or foot soldiers, your part in that chain is important, as you were both close to a significant dealing operation."You have become an essential means in that process of distribution of misery."The cocaine, which had a street value of between £34,000 and £43,000, was found after police searched Leighton's flat in Thackeray Road, Rift House, Hartlepool, on September 14 last year.They found 645 grams of the drug stored in packets and containers around the flat – some of it wrapped in lottery tickets.A set of digital scales and a chemical to mix with the cocaine were also seized along with a "dealer list" of names and numbers found in a kitchen drawer.Joanne Kidd, prosecuting, said Jenkins was sitting in the living room which was being used as a "work station" where the cocaine was being cut, mixed and bagged up ready for sale.Paul Cleasby, mitigating for Leighton, said he had been pressured into storing the drug for people higher up the network, who had access to his flat.He added that Leighton told police it was "more than my life is worth" to name them. Mr Cleasby said: "It wasn't his enterprise, he didn't profit to a significant extent."He was financially vulnerable at the time and these people, who are cold and calculating enough to profiteer in this industry, use people like Mark Leighton."Jenkins, who started taking cannabis at 13, was earlier convicted by a jury after his trial heard how his fingerprints were found on the cocaine.He had insisted he had merely handled the drugs on discovering them in the flat.Robin Denny, defending Jenkins, said: "Obviously the amount is considerable but he was a labourer so to speak.

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