Blackpool's most vulnerable were dealt drugs by Yorkshire crime gang that 'exploited youngsters' as part of their operation

The case was described as having "elements of modern day slavery" as prosecutors described the criminals' use of young, impressionable youths from West Yorkshire, who did as directed in order to ‘get in’ with the gang.

Two women and four men are expected to be sentenced today, with several others due to be dealt with in May, for their roles in the County Lines set up - a term used when criminals from bigger cities expand their drug dealing operations to smaller towns, often exploiting children and vulnerable people.

The cases, which form part of Lancashire Police's drugs probe Operation Ullswater, have not been publicised until now due to reporting restrictions.

Preston Crown Court heard the drugs conspiracy took place between May 1 and December 2, 2018, centering around three phone numbers collectively known as the "SJ phone", and the prosecution say the operation depended, for a period of time, on facilitating the travel of the three boys, aged 14, 14 and 16, to the resort and exploiting them.

The court heard they were under the defendants’ control, told where to go, what to do and when, arranged or given them transport, or given a base from which to operate - despite the criminals knowing their tender ages.

Ringleader Ryan Ncube, who was part of a crime gang called the ‘BBD’ - from the Bradley, Brackenhall and Deighton areas of Huddersfield - organised drug trafficking from Huddersfield to Blackpool.

Ncube, 21, of Scott Vale, Huddersfield, managed dealing arrangements in Blackpool and controlled three phone lines, registered on Lyca mobiles. One was registered to him and the other seized when he was arrested.

Text messages and call patterns show he directed his Yorkshire-based drivers to drive his couriers to Blackpool where they delivered drugs to users, or ‘cuckooed’ with drug users to direct and supply on his behalf.

He admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply drugs and a human trafficking charge in relation to a youth.

Blanket text messages were sent to addicts from the SJ phone, and when a customer responded, middlemen and drug users in the resort were directed or despatched to complete deals.

Cash flowed back to Huddersfield via Ncube's couriers or drivers, though on some occasions he himself travelled to Blackpool, and sometimes, under surveillance, he was seen to complete hand to hand exchanges with drug users when others were not available to deal for him.

Several different properties were used for his operation in Blackpool , including addresses on Harrison Street, Reads Avenue, Condor Grove, Central Drive, and Grasmere Road.

The 'managers'

Tyrese Cadwell, 20, of Chestnut Street, Huddersfield, made six journeys to Blackpool, and incriminating text messages show he was involved in dealing and managing dealers. He was observed using a house on Reads Avenue as a base, but his base changed following the search of a customer who left the address, and later Cadwell was seen to approach premises on Park Road.

He was also seen approaching an address on Central Drive used by the gang. Telephone evidence shows he was involved in the acquisition of drugs for the gang, was in contact with the 'SJ' phone, and made arrangements for drivers to go to Blackpool.

Cadwell's cousin, Dakari Brown, 18, of Bulay Road, Huddersfield, managed street dealers in Blackpool and also dealt himself. Text messages from the SJ phone show he carried out a number of deals, and used Central Drive as a base.

On his arrest Brown said he was a ‘big gangster’ who would ‘smoke’ those who were arresting him. He said his gang had been called the ‘BBD’ but had now changed their name, and that they ‘terrified the communities’.

Drugs were found in the pocket of a pink dressing gown hanging in his en suite bathroom. Police found a clear clingfilm wrap containing 4.92 grams of heroin, a plastic wrap containing 2.92 grams of cocaine, a damp tissue with traces of cocaine and morphine, and wrap with 0.02 grams of cocaine, a paper wrap containing 3.11 grams of cocaine at 46% purity.

A small bag of a rock-like substance in a washbag seized from an Audi A3, along with a flick knife, two blue plastic grinders, a blue ‘Faithful’ knife with white powder residue and electronic scales with traces of white powder from his bedroom.

Defendant Lewis Annerville, 20, of Keldergate Road, Huddersfield, managed dealers in Blackpool, stayed in the resort in August 2018 and was seen at Condor Grove - the home of two dealers he monitored, and was seen on the streets with one.

Sanchez Njie, 20, of Lea Farm Walk, Hawksworth, Leeds, managed three dealers and was also in contact with a 14-year-old the gang recruited to deal, who cannot be identified for legal reasons. His phone was frequently in contact with Ncube and the street dealers.

A 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, managed street dealers in Blackpool but also dealt himself. He stayed in Blackpool between July and August 2018, and was observed carrying out a hand to hand deals.

While in Blackpool he monitored three dealers and his phone was in frequent contact with Ncube, the SJ phone, and other defendants. He was arrested for another matter in December 2018 in West Yorkshire. Two mobile phones were seized - one of which was used with the SIM of one of the dealing lines when Ncube was out of the country.

The drivers

Jordan Gill-Smith, 21, of Lower Grange Road, Huddersfield, transported gang members, cash and drugs between Huddersfield and Blackpool in a Vauxhall Astra which made 12 return trips to Blackpool. Group text messages were sent out by the ‘SJ’ phone shortly after his arrival in the resort. In December 2018 he was stopped driving an Audi RS6 in Huddersfield with the 16-year-old. When he was arrested, a driving licence in Ncube's name was seized.

Connor Langford, 20, of Birklands Road, Huddersfield, transported gang members, cash and drugs in a VW Golf, making 11 return trips to Blackpool - the pattern of which is linked to group texts from the SJ phone.

In his interview he said he used cannabis and cocaine, and did not recognise the phone number attributed to him and did not have a phone. When officers pointed out his own father had given that number to the police to contact him he began to answer no comment. He was convicted of arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, in relation to transporting a boy back to Huddersfield.

Kaydee Cogan, 22, of Trafalgar Road, Huddersfield, transported members, cash and drugs in his Seat Ibiza, but in an interview said he took members to Blackpool as a favour and was paid £20 petrol money. Of the calls made when they were in the car, he said he didn’t hear what was said.

His brother Jordan, 23, of the same address, made similar journeys in an Audi A3 but said he had no knowledge of any criminal conduct, had taken Ncube to Blackpool as a favour and had been paid £50 petrol money.

The dealers

Sharna Leigh Boaler, 23, of Harrison Street, Blackpool, was frequently observed and recorded on video making hand to hand exchanges with known drug users, following contact with the SJ phone, from where she received her instructions.

Lee Lilliman, 33, also of Harrison Street, Blackpool, acted as a street dealer between July and August 2018, and was captured on surveillance videos dealing to known addicts. He was in contact with the SJ phone.

Stephen Hodson, 45, of Reads Avenue, Blackpool, was caught making several hand to hand exchanges on surveillance video, with evidence showing his phone in frequent contact with the SJ phone and other defendants. He told police he was in debt to ‘SJ’ and that gang members would come and sit for an hour in his flat, and he was unable to get rid of them.

He moved out of his flat in October, and went to live with Saunders and Matthews, but said "SJ" started going round to Matthew's flat then, so Hodson returned to his old flat. He said that ‘SJ’ is one of several black men who visit and that he calls them all ‘SJ’ - including Ncube.

He said he paid the debt off in the end by doing things he did not want to do, like ‘begging’ and ‘grafting’. He said ‘SJ’ asked him to pay him off by doing ‘drops’ of drugs, but he refused, and ‘SJ’ assaulted him in the hallway of his flat. He said ‘SJ’ had also sent Lilliman and Boaler to give him a ‘kicking’. He said Njie brought ‘smack’ and ‘crack’ to the house, and Hodson would pay for it in cash.

David Sharples, 41, of Grasmere Road, was seen restocking Boaler with drugs and being handed cash by her, and his phone had multiple contacts with Liliman, Hodson, the 16-year-old and Ncube.

Suzanne Matthews, 34, of Condor Grove, Blackpool, and her partner Adam Percival, shared a phone that was in contact with Hodson and the SJ phone, and were witnessed carrying out hand to hand drug deals in August 2018, with co-defendant Anerville seen at their home.

Helen Kenyon, 32, and Adam Saunders, 45, of Grasmere Road, Blackpool, housed one of the boys and allowed him to use their flat as a base from which to deal. In November 2018, officers arrived to find the boy in their house - with £850, 12 wraps of heroin and 51 of crack cocaine on him. His phone was seized and had been in contact with the SJ phone.

Kenyon said she thought he was 17 and had a different name. She said “SJ” was a friend of hers and had asked them to have the boy for a short while because he was “family” and had no idea he was dealing. Saunders said ‘SJ’ was Ncube.

The charges

Ncube, Cadwell, Brown, Njie, Annerville, Boaler, Lilliman, Matthews, Percival, Kenyon, Saunders and the 16-year-old admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs, while Gill-Smith Langford, Cogan, and Cogan, were found guilty after a trial in December.

Hodson and Sharples were found guilty at a second linked trial in January.

Brown admitted two counts of possessing a class A drug with intent to supply.

*Anthony Gransden, 31, of Methuen Close, Bournemouth, Dorset, was found not guilty of the conspiracy.

In relation to the youths, Ncube admitted two counts of facilitating the travel of another with a view to exploitation. Langford was found guilty of one count.