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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Alexander Brock

More than 30 people sentenced after major police drugs operation

Dozens of people involved in the supply of illegal drugs in Bristol have been sentenced to more than 70 years in prison in total.

During the past three days, 31 people were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court for drugs supply offences following a major police operation.

Operation Minimal was carried out between February and July with the aim of tackling the supply of class A drugs.

It also aimed to reduce incidents of associated violence within the east Bristol area and focused on targeting established drugs lines.

The operation was launched in response to offences of violence and drugs supply in communities in the area.

Police say organised crime groups were operating in east Bristol and offenders were exploiting vulnerable people, including children, to supply and store drugs and money.

Along with the 31 defendants who appeared in court this week, four other people had also been previously sentenced.

Among those sentenced this week was Norman Smith, 46, of Wade Street who was jailed for four years and given a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order on Wednesday (November 13).

He pleaded guilty to three counts of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and two counts of the supply of crack cocaine.

Irie Lewis, 23, of Rosebush Gardens in Bristol, was jailed for five years and 219 days on Thursday (November 14) after pleading guilty to two counts of the supply of crack cocaine and supply of diamorphine.

Jamael Myers, 26, of Mountbel Road, Harrow, was also jailed for five years and three months on Friday (November 15) after pleading guilty to four counts of supply of crack cocaine, and being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine.

Chief Inspector Paul Wigginton, local policing commander for Bristol East, said: “This is a really great set of results and removes a significant number of individuals responsible for the supply of illegal drugs off the streets of east Bristol.

“Drug dealing is a blight on the community and we take the supply of illegal drugs extremely seriously.

"This operation was initiated following community concerns about drug dealing in the area and the success is the result of months of hard work, dedicated officers and a coordinated effort working with Operation Remedy officers to catch and apprehend these criminals.

“We are continually working hard to remove drug dealers from our streets and I hope these sentences will reassure the local community and send a clear message to other criminals that drug dealing will not be tolerated in Avon and Somerset and we will continue to pursue those who decide to break the law.”

The full list of people sentenced as part of Operation Minimal can be found below:

Wednesday, November 13

Lewis Hoggins, 28, of no fixed address
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine and supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 4 years’ imprisonment

Lee Barclay, 43 of no fixed address
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine and supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 2 years 8 months’ imprisonment

Francis Kane, 54 of Pinkhams Twist, Hengrove
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine
Sentence: 20 months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months, and a four-month tagged curfew

Norman Smith, 46, of Wade Street, Bristol
Charges: 3 counts of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and 2 counts of supply of crack cocaine.
Sentence: 4 years’ imprisonment and Criminal Behaviour Order for 5 years.

Connor Ward, 24, of no fixed address
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine;
Additional offences also sentenced today: Affray, 3 counts of common assault, criminal damage, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a knife, threats to cause damage and Section 4 public order offence.
Sentence: 5 years 4 months’ imprisonment

Tracey Wilson, 47, of New Kingsley Road, Bristol
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine; supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 2 years 4 months’ imprisonment

Tomasz Zawadzki, 39, of Fox Road, Bristol
Charges: 2 counts of supply of crack cocaine; 2 counts of supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 3 years’ imprisonment


Thursday, November 14

Liam Jeffrey, 26, of Ascot Road, Southmead
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine; supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 3 years’ imprisonment

Irie Lewis, 23, of Rosebush Gardens, Bristol
Charges: 2 counts of supply of crack cocaine; supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 5 years and 219 days’ imprisonment

Shazeb Malik, 18, of Stanshaw Road, Bristol
Charges: 6 counts of supply of crack cocaine; 5 counts of supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 2 years 4 months’ in a Young Offenders’ Institution

Guled Mohamed, 20, of Goodhind Street, Bristol
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine; supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 2 years’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months, 150 hours unpaid work, electronically tagged curfew for 4 months

Lewis Parker, 19, of Brentry Road, Bristol
Charges: 2 counts of supply of crack cocaine; supply of diamorphine and possession of cannabis
Sentence: 2 years imprisonment suspended for 2 years, 180 hours unpaid work, electronically tagged curfew for 4 months

Trevor Pearce, 43, of Dove Street, Bristol
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine; supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 12-month community order, 6-month drugs rehabilitation order and up to 30 days’ drugs rehabilitation activity days

Samaya Rafiq, 40, of Church Street, Bristol
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine; supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 2 years’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months, 9-month drugs rehabilitation order and up to 20 days’ drugs rehabilitation requirement

Rachel Rundle, 39, of York Road, Bristol
Charges: 3 counts of supply of crack cocaine; 3 counts of supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 3 years’ imprisonment

Georgi Tsvetkov, 24, of Briary Road, Portishead
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine, supply of diamorphine, concerned in supply of crack cocaine, concerned in supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 2 years’ 4 months imprisonment

Martin Stallard, 51, of Severn View, Bristol
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine, supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 2 years’ imprisonment suspended for 2 years, 9-month drug rehabilitation order, 20 days drugs rehabilitation requirement

David Vollero, 37, of Stapleton Road, Bristol
Charges: Supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 2 years’ imprisonment suspended for 2 years, 9-month drugs rehabilitation order, 20 days drugs rehabilitation requirement


Friday, November 15

Afzal Ali, 40, of Seymour Road, Bristol
Charges: 2 counts of supply of crack cocaine, 3 counts of supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 2 years’ 8 months imprisonment

Gary Cockram, 50, of no fixed address
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine, supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 3 years’ 8 months imprisonment

Raion Eirvine, 27, of Croydon Street, Bristol
Charges: 4 counts of supply of crack cocaine
Sentence: 5 years and 3 months’ imprisonment, Criminal Behaviour Order for 5 years

Fathi Sharaei, 29, of no fixed address
Charges: Supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 2 years’ imprisonment

Sundar Griffith-Singh, 23, of Lena Street, Bristol
Charges: 3 counts of supply of crack cocaine
Sentence: 4 years 8 months’ imprisonment, Criminal Behaviour Order for 5 years

Marcus Lakey, 53, of West Street, Bristol
Charges: 2 counts of supply of crack cocaine
Sentence: 18 months’ imprisonment suspended for 2 years, 9-month drugs rehabilitation order, 2 months electronically tagged curfew

Michael Merchant, 53, of Grove Road, Fishponds
Charges: 2 counts of supply of crack cocaine; 2 counts of supply of diamorphine, possession of cannabis
Sentence: 5 years and 219 days’ imprisonment and a Criminal Behaviour Order for 5 years.

Kyle Morris, 23, of no fixed address
Charges: 4 counts of supply of crack cocaine, 3 counts of supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 3 years’ imprisonment

Jamael Myers, 26, of Mountbel Road, Harrow
Charges: 4 counts of supply of crack cocaine, concerned in the supply of crack cocaine
Sentence: 5 years 3 months’ imprisonment, Criminal Behaviour Order for 5 years

Sharon Nelmes, 48, of Stapleton Road, Bristol
Charges: 2 counts of supply of crack cocaine, supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months, 30 days drugs rehabilitation activity requirement

Chris Rawlings, 24, of Pountney Drive, Bristol
Charges: 4 counts of supply of crack cocaine, supply of diamorphine
Sentence: 2 years and 8 months’ imprisonment

Isaac Smith, 42, of Stonebridge Park, Bristol
Charges: 2 counts of supply of crack cocaine
Sentence: 2 years’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months, 9 month drugs rehabilitation order and up to 20 days drugs rehabilitation requirement

Jordan Woodman, 24, of no fixed address
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine
Sentence: 8 months’ imprisonment

Already sentenced

17-year-old boy (who cannot be named for legal reasons)
Charges: 4 counts of supply of crack cocaine, 4 counts of supply of diamorphine, possession of crack cocaine, possession of diamorphine, 2 counts of possession of cannabis, disqualified driving, dangerous driving
Sentence: Youth Detention – 18 months’ youth detention, 21-month driving disqualification

Carmeesha Jones, 22, of Chelsea Park, Easton, Bristol
Charges: Supply of crack cocaine and possession of cannabis
Sentence: 16 months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months

Gary Henry, 51, of no fixed address
Charges: Supply of Crack Cocaine
Sentence: 4 months’ imprisonment

Leon Phillips, 40, of Freemantle Gardens, Eastville, Bristol
Charges: Fraud by false representation, offered to supply crack cocaine
Sentence: £200 fine

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