Drug supplier gets five years in jail

AN Ormskirk man has been jailed for five years for his role in a Class A drug dealing network.

Thomas Rawling, of Smithy Lane, was among seven men sentenced after police uncovered four kilograms of cocaine and heroin in four raids across Greater Manchester.

Rawling, 37, was jailed last Friday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs at an earlier hearing.

It follows an extensive police investigation, code-named Operation Segma, which investigated the activities of an organised crime group involved in the supply of class A drugs across Greater Manchester.

The court heard how from November 5 to March 1, police carried out four warrants and subsequently seized drugs worth an estimated street value of £726,000 and officers also seized a firearm and ammunition.

Anthony Leak, the head of the organised crime network, was then arrested on April 5, just four days prior to his first scheduled televised boxing fight after maintaining he was too busy focusing on his boxing career to be involved in criminality.

Leak, 27 and of Fairfield Road, Openshaw, was sentenced to 11 years and four months in prison at Manchester Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

A further five men were sentenced to various terms after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs:

Mark Hunt, 37 of Pearl Way, Mottram.

Michael Torskyj, 39 of Clarence Street, Stalybridge.

Anthony Steenson, 31 of Rome Road, Collyhurst.

Samuel Dexter, 30 of Rycroft Grove, Wythenshawe.

James Dowling, 32 of Troutbeck Avenue, Ancoats

DI Vicki Kenyon, of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: “This was a hugely significant seizure of class A drugs and I am pleased that these men have been held accountable for their actions.

“Leak had everything going for him, by all accounts he could have been a very successful professional boxer, but clearly greed got in the way and he will now spend over 11 years behind bars to reflect on the sporting career he has denied himself of.

“I hope this investigation will go some way to showing how serious we are in our efforts to remove drugs from our streets and we will continue to target these organised crime networks.

“Today’s sentence should send a message to others who continue to go against the law and supply drugs or possess firearms. Drugs and fear will not be tolerated – we will find you and you’ll be brought to justice.’’