Eight accused of being in drug ring

Eight men have gone on trial accused of being involved in a cocaine dealing ring.

Men from Sunderland and East Durham are standing trial charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs across the North East.

The operation is alleged to have been based in South Hetton and the surrounding villages, spreading as far south as Hartlepool, and as far north as South Shields.

Arrests were made after months of surveillance by Durham Police as part of the force’s Operation Ebony, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Prosecutors allege the ringleader was 41-yearold Gary Mitchell, of South Hetton, assisted by Steven Horner and Christopher Hickson, who both lived at the time in nearby Haswell.

“Cocaine dealing is a business,” said Matthew Bean, prosecuting.

“It’s an illegal business, so it tends to be done in cash, out of the general gaze of the public, with few records kept.

He added: “We say Gary Mitchelll played a leading role, assisted by Hickson and Horner.

“To the north, there was Darren Gates who was based in South Shields.

The following each deny conspiracy to supply class A drugs between August, 2015, and July 2016.

Gary Mitchell, 41, of Pinedale, South Hetton, Steven Horner, 23, of Frederick Terrace, South Hetton, Christopher Hickson, 34, of Gloucester Terrace, Haswell, Dean Pringle, 34, of Little Eden Peterlee.

Graham Wilding, 32, of Warren Road, Hartlepool, Alan Baines, 32, of Stockton Road, Hartlepool, Darren Gates, 48, of Chaucer Avenue, South Shields.

A Sunderland man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies the same charge.

The case continues.