By Cleethorpes pair jailed for county lines drugs conspiracy
Two men from Cleethorpes have been handed combined jail sentences of over five years for their parts in a major county lines drugs conspiracy.
The pair are part of a larger group of criminals who sold crack cocaine and heroin across England.
Collectively, the group have been jailed for more than 39 years.
Mark Downes, 46, and Peter Symonds, 48, were identified and charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs following a lengthy investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.
The criminal gang used an address in Albatross Road, Strood, to store a safe which, when searched by officers from Kent Police in December 2017, was found to contain 299 wraps of crack cocaine and 302 wraps of heroin.
Further enquiries established the identities off all those involved in the criminal enterprise and on 10 October 2018 they were arrested following the execution of several search warrants.
A Grimsby woman was also arrested.
She has been charged with related offences and is due to appear for sentencing next month.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Dean Sycamore said: “This was an organised criminal network which distributed and supplied crack cocaine and heroin across England, targeting vulnerable drug users in order to make significant financial gains.
“Through our investigation we estimate that hundreds of thousand pounds worth of drugs was sold as part of this criminal network. Drugs not only ruin the lives of those using it, but affects their families and adversely affects communities that suffer associated crime.
“We work hard to tackle the supply and distribution of drugs across Kent and Medway and beyond and will continue to do so.”
Mark Downes, of Normandy Road, Cleethorpes, was sentenced to three years and one month.
Peter Symonds, of Montague Street, Cleethorpes, was sentenced to two years and nine months.
Amy Newport, 32, of Redbourne Road, Grimsby, was also charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
She will appear for sentencing at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday 21 September.
