Six men sentenced for Class A drugs conspiracy

Six men have been sentenced to a total of 17 years and three months in prison for a conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in Kettering.

The investigation into Freddie Allen, aged 30, Callum Head, aged 29, Daniel Fleming, aged 47, Ricki Johnston, aged 43, Matthew Coote, aged 35, and Daniel Towns, aged 34, all previously of Kettering, was launched by Northamptonshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Team in March 2022.

Focusing on the supply of cocaine in Kettering, the team meticulously investigated the gang for a year, resulting in the execution of a number of warrants in March 2023 across a number of commercial and residential properties in Kettering and Corby.

As a result, items were found and seized including a large quantity of Class A drugs, £10,000 in cash, designer clothing and expensive Rolex watches, and a number of weapons.

Following the warrants, an extensive analysis of the evidence was undertaken, revealing a network headed by Allen that was dealing cocaine in and around the Kettering area.

As a result of this, and financial enquiries, detectives were able to ascertain that Allen was making large amounts of money from this enterprise, spending it on multiple trips abroad, high performance hire vehicles and designer clothing.

All six men were arrested in connection with the finds and subsequently charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

After pleading guilty to the offences at Northampton Crown Court at an earlier court hearing in May, the gang were back at court at the end of last week (December 1) where they were sentenced to a total of 17 years and three months in prison.

Individually, this was made up of:

Freddie Allen sentenced to four years and 10 months

Callum Head sentenced to three years and seven months

Daniel Fleming sentenced to three years and one month

Ricki Johnston sentenced to three years

Matthew Coote sentenced to two years and nine months

Daniel Towns sentenced to 21 months, suspended for 18 months

Detective Constable James Roe, of the Force’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “This operation required many months of patience and painstaking analysis of all the evidence we had managed to collect over the course of the year.

“I am pleased with the sentences handed out and hope this case is a lesson to other drug dealers in our county – we will catch up with you and instead of the lifestyle of luxury you have been living, you will be staring at the four walls of a prison cell.

“Dismantling this operation means that these dealers are no longer operating on the streets of Kettering, therefore making it a safer place to live.”

Senior Investigating Officer - Detective Inspector Carrie Powers, also of the Force’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “I am really pleased to see these six men handed prison sentences and I hope it demonstrates the seriousness with which Northamptonshire Police and the courts take drug dealing.

“Many people see drug dealing as a victimless crime but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The root of many crimes often comes down to drugs and there is so much violence and exploitation associated with drug dealing.

“That’s why both drug harm and serious and organised crime are matters of priority for Northamptonshire Police and why we will continue to do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

“Finally, I’d like to thank the team for their hard work on this case – particularly DC James Roe.”

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