Stretton man cleared of drugs cartel involvement

A STRETTON on Dunsmore man has been cleared of any involvement in a drugs cartel which imported tonnes of cannabis from Spain and Holland and distributed it across the UK.

Darren Holmes, of Frankton Lane, was found not guilty after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court of conspiracy to supply cannabis.

The 47-year-old was among of several people arrested following a six-year investigation conducted by Warwickshire Police.

It centred on the group's leader, 39-year-old Terry Conlon from Bishops Tachbrook near Leamington, and his partner in crime Troy Stanton, who was responsible for operations in Spain.

A number of large seizures were made in 2008 including more than three tonnes of cannabis resin at a farm in Wolvey and 82kg of resin at a pub car park in Coventry,

After conversations with Spanish authorities, detectives were able to prove a link and arrested the men in June last year.

Conlon pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison. Stanton - who also pleaded guilty to all charges - will be sentenced on January 30.

Det Ch Insp Ally Wright, head of SOCU, said: "This has been one of the longest and the largest ever proactive investigation ever undertaken by Warwickshire Police and we are pleased we have steadily dismantled a high-level organised crime group.

"The sentences mean that over the last six years we have convicted 32 people of drug trafficking, drug dealing or related offences. We have taken off the streets tonnes of cannabis, 200kg of amphetamines and importantly five illegal firearms. We also seized £130,000 in cash.

"The criminal enterprise headed by Conlon was a multi-million pound business. Those involved had amassed the trappings of wealth, for example high-value cars and expensive properties in England and Spain, and yet none of them had a job or paid any tax."

Others arrested were Bryn Clinton, 45, of Banbury Road, Bishops Tachbrook, who was sentenced to five years four months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to import cannabis and conspiracy to supply cannabis; and Harry Card, 31, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge, Kent, who got four years four months after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cannabis. He was found not guilty of two counts of conspiracy to import cocaine.

Michael Wheaton, 31, of Golding Gardens, East Peckham, Tonbridge, Kent, was sentenced to three years after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis. He pleaded not guilt to conspiracy to import cocaine, but the jury were unable to reach a verdict and the charge will now be dropped.

Sean Walsh, 45, of Mount Pleasant Road, South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, was sentenced to eight years years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to import cannabis and being found guilty of one charge of conspiracy to import cocaine. He was found not guilty of a second charge of conspiracy to import cocaine; and Paul James, 36, of New Street, Bulkington, was sentenced to six years after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cannabis. He was found not guilty of conspiracy to import cannabis.

Jovan Tumara, 43, of Wordsworth Avenue, Stratford Upon Avon, was sentenced to three years nine months after he was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cannabis.

The jury were unable to reach a verdict on a charge for conspiracy to import cocaine against David Card, 51, of Oakmead Road, Tonbridge, Kent, which was formally dropped.

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