Drug charges brother and sister on the run
A BROTHER and sister from a Manchester-based ‘county lines’ drugs gang are on the run after walking out of court and vanishing.
Lauren Griffin, 25, and her brother Billy Griffin, 28 - both from Manchester - were due to be sentenced for smuggling heroin and cocaine into Grimsby.
They had turned up at Hull Crown Court for Friday’s sentencing hearing but disappeared and are now being hunted by police, Grimsby Live reports.
Both had previously admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between October 2015 and October 2016. They were caught along with six others in a major operation by Humberside Police to smash a Manchester gang targeting Grimsby to sell heroin and crack cocaine.
The case involves so-called ‘county lines,’ when gangs from larger cities such as Manchester and Liverpool target smaller towns to open up lucrative new drug markets.
After Friday’s court hearing was delayed for another case to finish, the Griffins walked out of the court and vanished.
When the judge was told the Griffins had absconded he said he hoped that the police would ‘prioritise’ trying to find them. Meanwhile, other members of the gang involved in the conspiracy did appear in court for their cases.
They were all remanded in custody until today (Monday Dec 17) for the judge to consider sentences.
Bonar Kekula, 28, of Collyhurst, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between October 2015 and October 2016.
John Brady, 29, of Manchester, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between October 2015 and October 2016.
Robin Griffin, 31, from Manchester, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between October 2015 and October 2016, possessing heroin with intent to supply and possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply.
Gerard Downs, 31, of Manchester, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between October 2015 and October 2016.
Lee Hughes, 30, of Manchester, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between October 2015 and October 2016.
The prosecution case was that the defendants were involved in a conspiracy where they recruit local people, including drug users, and put pressure on them to allow the gang to take over their houses to store drugs.
They may use threats of violence and use those they cajole to act as runners.
Police intercepted mobile phones calls and realised that the numbers featured in other drug arrest cases. Special numbers used by the drugs gang were discovered.
In a series of searches of houses and flats, stashes of heroin and crack cocaine were found as well as large amounts of cash.
Proceeding