Coventry and Solihull drugs kingpins jailed over huge speed and cannabis plot

Gang were 'an extremely well-organised team of criminals'

A Coventry drugs kingpin embroiled in an £800,000 speed and cannabis plot was today starting a seven-and-a-half year jail term.

Noel Brown , 57, of Church Lane, Stoke , and Solihull sidekick Colin Beck , 62, received drugs trafficked from Liverpool for their onward distribution.

The gang of seven, jailed yesterday for more than 32 years, used rental cars and a taxi, recruited people without criminal records, and stored drugs at safe houses.

Recorder Stephen Riordan, QC, said: “The organiser of the amphetamine conspiracy at the Liverpool end was [Vincent] Waddington, assisted by Andrew Hall,who throughout was his right-hand man.

“The recipient of the drugs, and no doubt responsible for their onward distribution in the West Midlands was Colin Beck, who lived in Bickenhill near Birmingham International airport. “He was assisted by Noel Brown who lives in Coventry and who made many trips to Liverpool himself for the purpose of delivering money and maybe collecting drugs, and who was in many respects an equal partner with Beck.

“The other defendants played lesser though significant roles, principally as couriers.”

Brown was described by the judge as being involved in the plot “right from the start”.

Jailing him, the judge said: “You helped to run the West Midlands end of this operation. You were involved right from the start and fulfilled a number of important roles including

attending meetings, delivering money and, at the end, coming to Liverpool to collect substantial quantities of Class B controlled drugs.

“When your home was searched, a significant quantity of herbal cannabis and cannabis resin was recovered, far too much for the personal consumption of you and your partner.”

The judge passed the following sentences:

Noel Brown, 57, of Church Lane, Coventry – seven and a half years

Andrew Hall, 35, of Caryl Street, Toxteth – four years and eight months

Colin Beck, 62, of St Peter’s Lane, Solihull – seven years

John Mogan, 36, of Rhyl Street, Dingle – four years

Joanne Gibney, 36, of Byles Street, Toxteth – two years and eight months

Thomas Cox, 41, of Harlow Street, Toxteth – three years and four months

Thomas Dobbs, 43, of Jericho Farm Close, Aigburth – three years and four months