East Lancashire men involved in cocaine supply sentenced

All the men were arrested following the seizure of Dean Houghton’s phone, who was sentenced at a previous hearing.

This kickstarted Lancashire Constabulary’s Operation Chelsea and uncovered a wholesale supply of the drugs into the region.

Darren Mackenzie, 37, of Higher Road, Longridge, was said to have supplied a range of street-level dealers with the drug across multiple levels, with it being sourced from Martin Day, 54, of no fixed abode.

Holly Menary, prosecuting, explained many transactions were identified by police through analysis of the defendant's phone, with the sum totalling one kilogram.

Phone analysis revealed around 25 people had bought an ounce of drugs at a time from Mackenzie over a two to three-month period.

Judge Andrew Jeffries KC said the defendant's honesty in his pre-sentence report was “refreshing”, with Mackenzie taking full accountability for his actions.

Mart Stuart, mitigating, said Mackenzie got involved with dealing due to being significantly in debt due to his addiction at the time of the offence.

He also said the defendant had turned to drugs to make money after being able to find legitimate work as a roofer, and said while he was at the top of the chain, there were no threats of violence and no profits were being brought back to him.

Daniel Scholes, 34, of Melbourne Street, Oswaldtwistle, was said to have worked for a long period with Mackenzie and had additionally offered to sell a crop of psychedelic mushrooms to him during the operation.

Philip Harman, mitigating, said: “His arrest was born out of selfish choices and an addiction that is well and truly behind him and much better days are ahead of him.”

One incident identified by the police was on December 13, when Lee Murray, 43, of Broadfield Road, Accrington, had agreed to buy half an ounce of cocaine from Mackenzie, to supply on New Year's Eve.

Daniel Travers, for Murray, said he was a very small-time street dealer and that he was a heavy user himself, but since his arrest, Murray has withdrawn from his cocaine usage and was described as taking his employment seriously, which regularly tests him.

The court heard how Liam Threlfall, 29, also of Melbourne Street, Oswaldtwistle, had coordinated with Arkadiusz Matejko, 27, who was sentenced at a previous hearing, to import a large quantity of cannabis from the United States.

However, the package, which was addressed to a property in Great Harwood, was intercepted by Border Force.

Mr Williamson, for Threlfall, said: “He displays remorse and regret at being court, and this is a young man who simply lost his character and jeopardised the situation in his life.

“He recognises he will go to custody and nonetheless, he is remorseful.”

READ MORE: Two men jailed for their involvement in major East Lancashire cannabis operation

READ MORE: Street dealer sold range of class A drugs to pay off debt

Joshua Bray, 31, of Marsden Street, Accrington, was also considered to be a street-level dealer in the operation and had regularly asked for quantities of drugs over the Christmas period, which included a payment of £1,600 to Mackenzie.

Ian Jobling, for Bray, said he had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse and during his time on remand, he had become a prison mentor and health responder.

Allen Aggrey, 44, of Kempton Close, Droysden, was also said to have received cocaine from Mackenzie, but was not very good at selling it on.

Ms Menary explained Mackenzie frequently chased the money owed to him and sent him images of injuries he had received when he had been unable to pay a drug debt.

Aggrey ended up repaying the cash from money he had earned by legitimate means.

Mr Jobling, also for Aggrey, said that he performed a lesser role in the operation and that his “heart was not really in it”.

The mitigation of the remaining defendants will be heard today before all face sentencing. 

They include:

• Eamonn Wyer, 57, of Manor Brook, Accrington
• Jake Duxbury 27, of Beach Grove, Oswaldtwistle
• Michael Wyer, 39, of Melbourne Street, Oswaldtwistle
• Daniel Cregg, 48, of Cricketers Close, Oswaldtwistle.
• Judson Hickey, 25, of Openshaw Croft, Clayton-le-Moors