Drug gang brothers jailed for brutal rape
TWO members of a drug gang who raped an unconscious woman have been sentenced to almost 50 years’ jail.
Brothers Jeffrey Dillon, 24, from Skelmersdale, and Bradley Dillon, 20, from Ormskirk, were among six people sentenced for their involvement in the “Carlos” drug gang at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday, May 1.
The gang smuggled heroin and crack cocaine into Blackpool from the Merseyside area.
Phones seized during raids also connected the Dillons – and the leader of the gang, Christopher Nimbley, 37, from Liverpool – to the rape and sexual assault of a woman who was “clearly” intoxicated and appeared to be unresponsive throughout.
Detectives later identified the woman, who had not consented to the sexual activity, and had no recollection of the incident.
The complex investigation, codenamed Operation Lawson, found that Nimbley, who had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, was running a mobile phone which drug users would call to then be directed to another number for a street dealer.
The Dillon brothers were left in charge of the Blackpool operation after Nimbley moved back to Liverpool in January 2017.
Police raided a Blackpool flat the following month and arrested Jeffrey Dillon, Bradley Dillon, and James Rothwell, 28, from Skelmersdale, for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Phones were seized, along with a small amount of cannabis and spice and digital scales, which were later found to contain traces of cocaine, heroin and cannabis.
James Rothwell was jailed for five years and six months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on May 1.
Another raid took place at a second flat, where more phones were seized along with plastic bags containing traces of cocaine.
Officers then raided a flat in Toxteth, Liverpool, where Nimbley lived.
He was not there but police found a large amount of loose brown powder – 14 grams of 29% purity heroin – and two large white crack cocaine rocks valued at around £10,000.
The ringleader was later located and arrested in Liverpool on September 5 with a suitcase containing more than £2,000 and scales.
On November 9, 2017, following a three-week trial at Preston Crown Court, Nimbley and Bradley Dillon were found guilty of rape and sexual assault and Jeffrey Dillon was found guilty of rape.
The six members of the drug gang appeared at Preston Crown Court on May 1 and have collectively been sentenced to almost 100 years in jail.
Bradley Dillon, of Lea Crescent, Ormskirk, was sentenced to three years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, 14 years for rape and five years for sexual assault.
Jeffrey Dillon, of Inglewhite, Skelmersdale, was sentenced to four years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and 22 years with a five-year extended licence for rape.
Nimbley, of Wordsworth Street, Liverpool, was jailed for seven years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, 25 years for rape with an extended five-year licence, and five years for sexual assault.
Lancashire police have confirmed that the men will serve their sentences concurrently.
Det Ch Insp Rebecca Smith, of Blackpool police, said: “This type of criminal activity is very sophisticated and takes a lot of time to investigate and bring to court but we continue to work tirelessly to dismantle such groups as the ‘Carlos’ gang and make our streets safer places to be and live.
“Nimbley and his associates were prolific in the resort – flooding the seaside town with illicit drugs.
“Through our investigation we also identified that Nimbley and the Dillon brothers had brutally raped a vulnerable woman. These are dangerous men who have exploited their power, not only to facilitate illegal activities, but to violate an innocent woman, causing extreme physical and emotional harm.
“Their acts are truly despicable and I hope that the result today can bring her some justice and allow her to move forward.”