Members of a gang who peddled heroin and crack cocaine on the streets of Macclesfield have been jailed for a total of eight years.
A court heard that ring leader Thomas Quadrio had made sure that drugs were ‘always available’ on the streets of Macclesfield.
His main dealer was Darren Cooper who sold drugs near St John The Evangelist Primary School, the court heard.
Four men were arrested following a year-long undercover operation by Cheshire Police called Operation Alzira.
Quadrio, 32, of Abbey Road, Macclesfield, also ran a so-called ‘graft’ phone which was used to communicate with his dealers and drug users.
He employed a driver, Peter Jones, 51, who used his Renault Clio to take Quadrio to and from Liverpool where the supply of drugs originated from.
Quadrio’s main dealer was Darren Cooper, 40, who was caught selling drugs on the Weston estate, at times near St John The Evangelist Primary School.
Another dealer Benjamin Preece, 34, was caught selling two deals of heroin on Jodrell Street.
Quadrio admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He was jailed for five years.
Cooper, of Carisbrook Avenue, Macclesfield, admitted four charges of supplying class A drugs. He was jailed for 40 months.
Preece, of HMP Altcourse, admitted supplying heroin and will be sentenced at a later date.
Peter Jones, of Bread Street, Macclesfield, admitted conspiracy to supply drugs in March and was sentenced to 15 month in prison suspended for 12 months.
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Sentencing Quadrio and Cooper, Judge Tina Landale said: “You were both involved in the supply drugs from Liverpool to Manchester.
“Quadrio, you were the controller of the phone and directed people to where they could buy drugs. You made sure that drugs were always available on the streets of Macclesfield. You were directing operations and had a significant role. Cooper, you embraced your role as a street dealer even when you were seen near a primary school. You had a significant role supplying heroin and crack cocaine as a street dealer.”
Nick Clarke, defending Quadrio, said he became addicted to cannabis after losing his job in the construction industry and was selling drugs to pay off a debt.
Rachel Cox, defending Cooper, said he was a drug addict ‘embroiled in a world he knew nothing about’ to pay off debts.
