Police unravel major drug network with nine men jailed for more than 60 years

Nine men involved in a significant drug supply and distribution network between Liverpool and Northamptonshire have been jailed for a total of almost 62 years.

Through a large-scale investigation, detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit’s Regional Organised Crime Unit (EMSOU ROCU) unravelled the men’s various roles in bringing Class A and B drugs from Merseyside into Kettering, Corby and Northampton over a period of at least 24 months, between August 2019 and August 2021.

Officers were able to establish that three Liverpool men, Paul Campbell, aged 43, James Connor, aged 35, and Wayne Toner, aged 51, had made at least 28 trips to Northamptonshire, delivering packages of cocaine and amphetamine and returning home with thousands of pounds in cash.

L-R - Paul Campbell, Wayne Toner and James Connor

Investigations revealed repeat meetings with 47-year-old Gilbert Stirling in Kettering, and with at least six further wholesale purchasers in Northampton and Corby - John Chapman, aged 79, Stephen Davidson, aged 32, Conor Sherwood, aged 28, Daryl Marshall, aged 35, David Madden aged 46, and Arron Vidler, aged 24. 

On September 29 and October 1, 2021, a number of warrants were executed in connection with the investigation, resulting in the arrest and charge of the ten on a range of drugs-related offences.

L-R: Darryl Marshall, David Madden and Gilbert Stirling

All went on to enter guilty pleas during subsequent court hearings, with Toner, Vidler, Madden, and Chapman all pleading guilty at the outset of their trial on May 2 and 3.

At Northampton Crown Court today, Tuesday, May 30, nine of the group were sentenced to a total of 61 years and eight months in prison, with ringleader Paul Campbell receiving a total sentence of 12 years and nine months.

Sentencing, Judge David Herbert said: “Campbell is the principal member of the defendant group. He occasionally came to Northamptonshire to oversee ‘business’ and he would have been the person out of all these men who would have profited the most.”

L-R: Stephen Davidson, Arron Vidler and Conor Sherwood.

Speaking afterwards, investigator Hazel Score, from EMSOU ROCU, said: “This sentencing result represents a huge amount of painstaking, tireless work by our team, who gathered detailed and compelling evidence which gave these ten defendants no choice but to enter guilty pleas.

“A substantial amount of illegal drugs were bought and sold by these individuals, with a conservative estimated street value of £885,500 which illustrates the large-scale nature of the dealing involved.

“Paul Campbell in particular was shown to be in contact with every single person in this case, and no doubt many others elsewhere, so in breaking up this network of criminals we’re confident we’ve removed a major source of Class A and Class B drugs in Northamptonshire and beyond.”

Detective Inspector Darren Brown, also of EMSOU ROCU, added: “I’m really pleased that the sentences imposed reflect the severity of the offending, and also the dedication and attention to detail our team put into this case. Rest assured, if you’re involved in the supply of illegal drugs in our region, sooner or later we will catch up with you and it will be your turn to face justice too.”

Drug harm is one of Northamptonshire Police’s four Matters of Priority. If you have information about suspected drug dealing, please report it by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency. Information can also be shared anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Charges and sentences:

• Gilbert Stirling, aged 47, of Eastbrook, Corby. Pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, namely amphetamine, sentenced to four years and 10 months.
• Stephen Davidson, aged 32, of Helmsley Way, Corby. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, and supply of Class A drugs, sentenced to a total of six years and nine months.
• Conor Sherwood, aged 28, of Nithsdale Avenue, Market Harborough, formerly of Corby. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, sentenced to four years. Sherwood was also sentenced to a further 12 months (to be served consecutively) after admitting one count of controlling or coercive behaviour relating to incidents in Corby in July 2022. He was also given a 10-year restraining order.
• Darryl Marshall, also known as Daryl Alcorn, aged 35, of Bideford Square, Corby. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, sentenced to a total of six years.
• Arron Vidler, aged 24, of Westfields Road, Corby. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, sentenced to a total of five years and six months.
• David Madden, aged 46, of Beanfield Avenue, Corby. Pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, sentenced to a total of six years.
• Paul Campbell, aged 43, of Tom Mann Close, Liverpool. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, sentenced a total of 12 years and nine months.
• James Connor, aged 35, of Wapshare Road, Liverpool. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, sentenced to a total of eight years and seven months.
• Wayne Toner, aged 51, of Wapshare Road, Liverpool. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, sentenced to a total of six years and three months.

John Chapman, aged 79, of High Street, Upton, Northampton, failed to appear at court for sentencing and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Chapman has previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and possession of Class B with intent to supply, and will be sentenced at a later date.