Six gang members jailed for flooding Runcorn with class A drugs

Two other members of the organised crime group responsible for the large-scale supply of illegal drugs in Runcorn were handed suspended jail terms.

The six men and two women were convicted as part of Operation Winkled – an investigation by Cheshire Police into the flow of crack cocaine and heroin into the Murdishaw area of Runcorn over the course of 13 months.

All eight appeared at Chester Crown Court today, Monday, to be sentenced, having previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

The defendants were handed the following sentences:

• Scott Doran, aged 35 and of HMP Altcourse – nine years in prison
• Darren Garbe, aged 24 and of Fenton Green, Liverpool – four years in prison
• David Keegan, aged 52 and of Nortonwood Lane, Runcorn – three years in prison

• Marcus Pike, aged 22 and of HMP Altcourse – three years and four months in prison
• Samantha Bushall, aged 37 and of HMP Styal – three years and nine months in prison
• Michelle Bushall, aged 59 and of Mooring Close – nine months in prison suspended
• Stephen Redmond, aged 22 and of Talisman Close, Runcorn – three years and four months in prison
• Zachery Rizzotti, aged 22 and of St Andrew Road, Liverpool – two years in prison suspended

During the hearing, officers produced evidence from their investigation that took place between August 15, 2021, and September 19, 2022.

The investigation established that Doran acted as the ringleader of the group based in Murdishaw.

Garbe, Doran’s brother, was evidenced to be one of Doran’s deputies, assisting in orchestrating the movement and supply of drugs.

Officers raided 14 homes in Runcorn, Widnes and Merseyside (Image: Cheshire Police)

Keegan worked as a taxi driver in a bid to operate under the radar, helping to facilitate the supply line under Doran and Garbe’s command.

Samantha Bushell and her mother, Michelle Bushell, would assist with money laundering for the OCG, and for Samantha’s then partner, Doran.

They also allowed their home to be the hub for the line to operate from.

Two mobile numbers linked to the county lines team were identified sending daily bulk messages advertising the sale of class A drugs in the Runcorn area.

The defendants were identified following a number of enquiries, including telecoms analysis, CCTV and ANPR.

In the early hours of December 14, 2021, 200 officers from Cheshire Police, with support from Merseyside Police, raided 14 addresses across Runcorn, Widnes and Merseyside.

All eight defendants were subsequently arrested and charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Following the sentencing, DI Ali White said: “I welcome the sentences handed to Doran and his associates, who have collectively been put behind bars for more than 25 years.

A heatmap of officers conducting the raids (Image: Cheshire Police)

“This OCG thought they could operate under the radar and establish a cocaine and heroin supply line into Murdishaw, with drugs being openly supplied in the community.

"Little did they know we were hot on their trail, gathering a catalogue of evidence against them so that the defendants had no choice but to enter a guilty plea.

“Thanks to the hard work of a dedicated team of officers throughout a lengthy investigation, these individuals are now facing the consequences of their actions, and a large amount of class A drugs has been taken off the streets.

“Illegal drugs can have a devastating impact on not only drug users, but the community around them.

“In Runcorn, we are doing all we can to stop drug activity on our streets to make the town a safer place to live, while also making it extremely difficult for these gangs to operate.

“We will always act on any information about drug activity provided to us, and we would urge anyone who believes this activity is happening near to them to please contact Cheshire Police.”

A county line is operated by an organised crime group that uses a mobile phone, known as a ‘line’ or a ‘graft’, to extend their criminal activity business into new locations - usually from a city into rural areas.

In some cases, organised crime groups can target and exploit children, vulnerable adults and disabled people to deliver and deal drugs on their behalf.

To help make Runcorn a safer place to live, spot the signs of county lines drug dealing and report it to Cheshire Police by calling 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111.