Eight sentenced following lengthy investigation by Warwickshire Police

Eight people have been sentenced to a total of 43 years in prison for drugs related offences following a lengthy investigation by Warwickshire Police's Serious Organised Crime Team.

The investigation began following an incident in July 2008 when a group of men forced their way into a property in Magyar Crescent, Nuneaton to steal illegal cannabis which was being grown there.

Some of the group were arrested nearby and a large number of mature cannabis plants, believed to have a street value of £40,000, were found hidden in the area.

As the investigation continued, nineteen linked addresses were discovered across England and Scotland and cannabis with a street value of more than £460,000 was recovered.

Five men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply bush cannabis and at Coventry Crown Court yesterday, Wednesday August 25, were each sentenced to eight years in prison.

They were Paul Danny Bissett, aged 25, of Mortham Street, Stratford, London; Scott Allan, aged 24, of Blanche Street, Canning Town, London; Matthew Robert May, aged 28, of Robin Crescent, Beckton, London; Robert Charles Brandon, aged 26, of Frampton Road, Epping, Essex; and Syed Haidar Ali Gilani, aged 22, of Hillcrest Road, Redbridge, London.

Following a previous trial two other men were found guilty of conspiracy to supply bush cannabis and on Thursday August 19 were sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for two years and a period of community work.

They were Neil Atkins, aged 25, of Eastbrooks, Pitsea, Basildon, Essex and Matthew William Bowthorpe, aged 32, of The Lawns, Peterborough.

Daniel Donavan, aged 25, of Rathbone Street, Stratford, London pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of being concerned in the supply of cannabis and on August 19 was also sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for two years plus a period of community work.

A spokesman for the Warwickshire Police Serious Organised Crime Team, said:"This operation demonstrates that Warwickshire Police is actively targeting all levels of criminality in order to protect people from harm. The investigation was both protracted and complex and we are very pleased with the result which sees so many offenders brought to justice."

ends

The linked addresses that the investigation revealed and the Forces Warwickshire liaised with were at:

Birmingham - West Midlands Police

Crewe - Cheshire Constabulary

Clacton on Sea - Essex Police

Eastbourne - Sussex Police

Eastleigh - Hampshire Constabulary

Edgware x 2 - Metropolitan Police

Great Yarmouth - Norfolk Constabulary

Newcastle on Tyne - Northumbria Police

Nottingham City x 4 - Nottinghamshire Police

Telford - West Mercia Constabulary

Wellingborough - Northamptonshire Police

West Linton + Newtongrange - Lothian + Borders Police

Wiveliscombe nr Taunton - Avon and Somerset Constabulary

In addtion, there was a car located in Basildon Essex with stolen property in the boot