A fugitive who played a major role in a multi-million pound cocaine plot has been locked up for almost 17 years.
John Mullally went on the run after being identified as a key figure in a drugs gang that operated across the north.
The Norris Green criminal spent two years at large before being hunted down by a surveillance network launched to find him and his partner in crime.
Mullally was initially arrested in 2016, shortly after his associates Leslie Moulden and Anthony Carr were found with four kilos of high purity cocaine valued at just over £2.75m.
Detectives linked him to the enterprise after text messages placing him at the heart of the gang’s North West operation.
But in June 2017, ahead of their first appearance in court, Mullally and Moulden absconded.
Their disappearance led to a hunt by covert officers from the North East Regional Special Operations Unit (NERSOU).
That bid led to Moulden being traced to Leeds after a year on the run before Mullally was tracked to Merseyside earlier this year.
On Monday he was sentenced to 16 years and eight months imprisonment at Newcastle Crown Court.
The 56-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply cannabis, possession of cocaine and absconding on bail.
Commenting on the sentence, Detective Inspector Steve Pescod, from NERSOU, said: “John Mullally was an arrogant criminal who absconded whilst on bail and spent nearly two years on the run from police.
"He genuinely believed he would never be caught and refused to face up to his crimes.
“However, yesterday marked the end of a long and complex investigation for our officers and we are pleased with the result.
“Mullally was part of a sophisticated and large-scale drugs operation which sought to make money by flooding our streets with cocaine.
“I would like to thank all of the officers involved for their hard work in what was an intricate and fast-paced investigation carried out under the banner of Operation Sentinel, our dedicated initiative to tackling serious and organised crime.
"I would also like to thank our colleagues at Merseyside Police for their help and assistance.
"Cocaine is an incredibly addictive drug, which causes untold physical harm to those who abuse it. Not only does it ruin people’s lives but it has a devastating social impact on our communities."
*Anthony Carr, 39, of Redesdale Road, North Shields, was the first of the gang to admit to his part in the drugs operation when he admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. He was jailed for six years and eight months at a sentencing hearing at Newcastle Crown Court on August 24.
Nicholas Casselden, of Manor Way, Peterlee; Paul McGovern, of Liverton Avenue, Guisborough; and Dean Wear, of Albion Road, North Shields were convicted by a jury of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Casselden, 42, was handed a 12 year sentence while McGovern, 46, and Wear, 54, were each jailed for 10 years.
Moulden, 59 and of Dilston Way, Wallsend way jailed for 16 years for his role in the conspiracy and for absconding while on police bail.
