The gang operated from two houses in the town and were snared following a year-long, undercover operation by Cheshire Police.
Police said the operation pumped more than four kilos of heroin and crack cocaine worth £426,000 onto the streets of Macclesfield, netting the gang around £213,000.
Four men from Macclesfield who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine were given lengthy jail sentences at Warrington Crown Court last Wednesday.
Ringleader Thomas Flanagan, 30, of Brynmore Drive, was described by Judge Tina Landale as ‘ruthless’ in his control of the ‘empire’ and was sentenced to eight years, while his stepfather and ‘second lieutenant’ John Hambleton, 48, of Sutton Close, was given six years and eight months.
David Hunter, 36, of Stoneleigh Close, who acted as courier driving the drugs from Liverpool was sentenced to 32 months, while leading dealer Michael Green, 36, of Buckfast Close, was sentenced to four years.
Five other street dealers from Macclesfield all admitted supplying heroin and crack cocaine.
Joseph McGuire, 38, of Renfrew Close, was sentenced to four years six months; Stephen Day, 43, of Kendal Road, was sentenced to 32 months; Thomas Jackson, 18, of Wenlock Close; was sentenced to 12 months in a Young Offenders’ Institute; Adam Harrison, 29, Cedar Grove, was sentenced to 28 months, and Daniel Mayers, 34, of Brook Street, was also sentenced to 28 months.
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Detective Sergeant Gavin Day, who led the operation, said: “All the defendants had different levels of involvement and control over the supply of drugs in the Macclesfield area.
“However their aim was clear – to bring illegal drugs onto the streets and sell them on for a profit.
“Flanagan and Hambleton were key to the organisation of their activity. This is the conclusion of a year-long investigation into dismantling that supply of drugs into the town. The sentences handed down send out a strong message that if you choose to come into Cheshire and sell drugs and spread misery then you will end up paying the price for your actions.”
Macclesfield MP David Rutley said: “These drug dealers will now pay the price for ruining other people’s lives and their criminal activity.”
Operation Alzira: The charge sheet
- Thomas Flanagan, of Brynmore Drive; John Hambleton, of Sutton Close, Michael Green, 36, of Buckfast Close, and David Hunter, 36, of Stoneleigh Close, all Macclesfield, admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.
- Joseph McGuire, 38, of Renfrew Close, Stephen Day, 43, of Kendal Road; Thomas Jackson, 18, of Wenlock Close; Adam Harrison, 29, Cedar Grove; Daniel Mayers, 34, of Brook Street, all Macclesfield, admitted supplying heroin and crack cocaine.
- Other drug dealers caught by Operation Alzira include:
- James Barlow, 20, of Augusta Drive, Macclesfield, admitted supplying class A drugs. He was jailed for three years.
- Mark Canavan, 48, of HMP Liverpool, admitted supplying class A drugs and was jailed for 24 months.
- Paul Roberts, 38, of Erin Close, Liverpool, admitted supplying class A drugs and was jailed for 40 months.
- Stephen O’Neill, 45, of Levens Street, Manchester, was jailed for 26 months for supplying class A drugs.
- Ryan Chadwick, 19, of Swanley Avenue, Manchester, was jailed for 24 months for supplying class A drugs.
- Three other men from Macclesfield have admitted supplying drugs. Benjamin Charles Preece, 34, of HMP Altcourse; Darren John Cooper, 40, of Pennine Court, Carisbrook Avenue; and Thomas John Quadrio, 31, of Abbey Road, will be sentenced in May.
