Drug dealer killers jailed for 78 years
FOUR men found guilty of killing a drug dealer in a revenge attack have been jailed for a total of 78 years and six months.
Mark Mason, 48, was murdered in October by a rival drug gang from Liverpool as he sat in a van in the Home Bargains car park in Rhyl.
The father of two was stabbed 22 times within a matter of seconds when turf warfare in the seaside town erupted between the two gangs.
At the time of the murder Mr Mason was in the van with his driver Sam Illidge and Justin Trickett.
Yesterday at Mold Crown Court James Davies, 21, of Moscow Drive, was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years after he was found guilty of murder. His accomplice Anthony Baines, 31, of Sutcliffe Street, was found guilty of manslaughter and received 17 years.
Drugs boss Baines also received a concurrent sentence of six years for wounding Sam Illidge with intent.
He must serve half of the 17 years before being released.
Baines was described as an intelligent man who used his organisational skills to run the gang and gave the go-ahead for the attack on Mr Mason.
He led the gang that brought heroin and crack cocaine from Liverpool to Rhyl.
The judge said that his group had operated for four and a half years and he made £7,000 a week from “his pernicious trade which brings destruction and misery to the many who became addicted to drugs.”
Mark Ennis, 31, of Bedford Road, was also found guilty of manslaughter and received 14 years.
He will serve half that time before being released on licence.
Baines and Ennis were cleared of murder.
Jake Melia, 21, of Eastbourne Road, Liverpool, Baines’ cousin, had earlier pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Mason and was sentenced to 22 years and six months.
Melia also received concurrent five-year sentences for wounding with intent upon Mr Illidge and Mr Trickett, which he also admitted.
Mrs Justice Nicola Davies described the attack as “swift, savage and terrifying”.
She said: “Rhyl has become a town where dealing in drugs is a daily occurrence. Drug gangs operate within the town to ply their wares.”
The judge said Davies inflicted the greatest number of injuries.
She said Davies was at the passenger side of the van where Mason was sitting for between two and four seconds and the judge said that she could not be satisfied he intended to kill.
As the four guilty men were led away from the dock friends and family shouted to their loved ones.
Speaking after the case Detective Superintendent Iestyn Davies, who led the investigation, said: “We welcome the sentences imposed by the court today against these four defendants, three of which had pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the jury followed the compelling evidence to reach these verdicts.
“Anthony Baines, James Davies, Mark Ennis and Jake Melia are dangerous, manipulative and violent men who were prepared to resort to extreme means to maintain their drug supply enterprise in the Rhyl area.
“They preyed on the vulnerability of others in the Rhyl community to secure an established and elaborate drug supply network, Baines being the leader of the gang and controlled the business.
“This is a truly sad case which illustrates the dangers of becoming involved in not only drug taking but drug dealing criminality.
“I hope that Mark Mason’s family will take some comfort that those responsible for this death are now behind bars for many years to come.”