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Gran jailed after drugs swoop

1/ 5/2008

A GRANDMOTHER caught dealing heroin is among 20 people convicted of drugs offences after a major operation by police in Salford.

In October last year more than 100 officers carried out a series of raids on homes in Little Hulton and Walkden after months of intelligence gathering.

After getting information from local people, the police community support officers and others in the community, police worked for several months to gain detailed intelligence on dealers supplying crack cocaine and heroin.

Operation Marengo resulted in a drug ring in the two neighbouring towns being smashed and the 10 main offenders receiving prison sentences totalling more than 30 years.

Among those jailed was a 56-year-old grandmother, Eunice Masterson, from Bolton Road, Bury, who received three years for supplying heroin and a 16-year-old boy who was also convicted of supplying Class A drugs.

Superintendent Ian Palmer of Salford Police said: "The aim of this operation was to send a message to both the public in Salford and the drug dealers who blight our community.

"To the dealers themselves the message could not be clearer - we are coming for you. Officers will be coming through your door when you least expect it and you will be arrested and brought to justice.

"The results of this operation should act as a stark warning to dealers. Make no mistake our officers are working tirelessly to rid our community of drugs and we will continue to target those who think they are above the law.

"Our operation led to the arrest and conviction of a 56-year-old grandmother and a 16-year-old boy. It doesn't matter how old you are, if you are involved in dealing drugs you will be arrested.

"We will not tolerate drugs in our community. They can have a devastating affect and can often lead to other serious crimes.

"I am very pleased with the outcome of this operation. What is also satisfying is that many of the arrests came as a result of intelligence provided by law abiding members of the community who share our abhorrence of drug dealing."

As a result of the operation Salford City Council is considering evicting some of the offenders and their families from their homes.

The following people were also convicted of supplying class A drugs: Mark Farrell, aged 34, formerly of Castle Way, Clifton, who sentenced to five years in prison; Lee Paul Watts, aged 37, of Old Wells Close, Little Hulton, four and a half years; Mark Robert Nuttall, 34, of Manchester Road East, Little Hulton, 42 months; Gareth Fernhead, of Park Street, Tyldesley, 42 months; Eugene Noonan, 41, of Carrfield Avenue, Little Hulton; nine months suspended for 12 months, and a 12-month supervision order; Glynn Broadhurst, 36, of Sandwich Street, was given a 12 month community order; Wendy Pardon, 34, of Park Road, Walkden, received a 12-month community order; Carl Pendlebury, 19, of Fairhurst Drive Little Hulton, was sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders institution; Peter Lee, aged 39, of Kenyon Way, Little Hulton, four years. A 16-year-old youth from Little Hulton, who cannot be named for legal reasons was given an 18-month supervision order.

The following people were given sentenced for being concerned with the supply of Class A drugs: Paul John Hankinson, 31, of New Lester Way, Little Hulton, two years; Paul Grimshaw, 36, of Darlington Street, Tyldesley, 18 months; Rebecca Prendergrast, 29, of Ridyard Street, Walkden, 18 months; Peter Whittle, 38, Highgate Lane, Little Hulton, nine months suspended for two years, and ordered to take part in a drug treatment programme and given a 12-month supervision order; David Dyson, 43, of Whittle Street, Walkden, nine months, suspended for two years, given a two years supervision order and a six-month drug treatment order; Samantha Jayne Collins, 34, nine months suspended for 18 months, ordered to take part in six-month drug treatment programme, and given an 18-month supervision order.

A 17-year-old youth of Little Hulton was given an 18-month community rehabilitation order.

Sentencing on Elysha Farrell, of Ashton Field Drive, Walkden, will take place next week.

All 20 of the defendants pleaded guilty.

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