Seven go on trial over cocaine conspiracy

ALLEGED GANG ACCUSED OF BRINGING DRUGS TO AREA AND HAVING FOUR SAFE HOUSES

Seven people have gone on trial accused of taking part in an organised conspiracy to bring cocaine and other illegal drugs to Wearside and East Durham.

The seven, and others not before the court, are alleged to have used a network of safe houses to cut, store, and distribute cocaine bought in bulk.

Cash from the dealing was stored elsewhere to minimise losses in the event of detection, a jury at Teesside Crown Court was told.

The court heard large quantities of high-purity cocaine were brought into the area by Andrew Blake, assisted by Christian Winter and Ian Ramshaw.

Detectives identified at least four “safe houses” used for the storing, bulking out, and distributing of the drugs.

The houses were: A house in Fletcher Crescent, Houghton, owned by defendants Michael and Margaret Murphy.

A house in Cambridge Road, Silksworth, Sunderland, lived in by defendant Ian Ramshaw.

A house in Osborne Avenue, South Shields, home of defendant Christian Winter.

A house at Carlton Crescent, Farringdon, Sunderland, lived in a by a woman who had previously operated a safe house when she lived in Fletcher Crescent.

Peter Makepeace QC, prosecuting, said that as their cocaine network grew, those operating it branched out into other drugs, including ecstasy tablets. The gang kept their money in separate locations from the drugs to minimise the risk of losing everything if they were raided, the jury was told.

“When the police raided the home of Thomas Blake more than £100,000 of drug-contaminated cash was recovered from a secret compartment hidden at the bottom of a shelving unit” said Mr Makepeace

The following all deny conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between March 2014 and June 2015.

Ian Ramshaw, 32, of Cambridge Road, Silksworth, Christian Winter, 50, of Osborne Avenue, South Shields, Andrew Blake, 40, of Regent Court, South Hetton, David Murphy, 38 of Avonmouth Road, Farringdon, Sunderland, Michael Murphy, 63, and Margaret Murphy, 61, both of Fletcher Crescent, Houghton.

The Murphys deny conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. Thomas Blake, 77, of Jubilee Square, South Hetton, denies converting criminal property.

The trial is expected to last up to eight weeks.