Drug gang jailed

Nikolas Redfearn

A GROTTON man has been jailed for six years for his part in a drugs gang.

Nikolas Redfearn (40), of Thornlee Court, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and possession of CS gas at Manchester Crown Court on Friday.

Also jailed were Mark Blacker (30), of Derwent Street, Ordsall, who was sentenced to 12 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin, and Michael Artwell (31), of Shillingford Road, Gorton, who got 16 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and possession of a firearm and ammunition.

In March 2014 Blacker was seen handing a bag to Redfearn which was placed in the back of a white Range Rover. Police stopped the car and found over a kilogram of cocaine worth around £300,000 and a CS gas canister.

In May police raided a home in Burnage and found over seven kilograms of heroin worth around £1.2 million and over 20 kilos of adulterant — caffeine and paracetamol. A gun and 200 rounds of ammunition were also retrieved. Artwell, Blacker and were arrested later that day. Robertson had a large quantity of Ecstasy pills.

Det-Insp Rob Cousen, of the Serious Organised Crime Group, said: “This group were set up to do serious business and were intent on making thousands of pounds out of their drug dealing.

“Thanks to this operation, not only did we manage to prevent these drugs from making it on to our streets, but we also helped to prevent anyone being injured. Not many people keep a firearm with hundreds of rounds of ammunition if they are not intent on using it.

“I would always ask anyone who may know where drugs are being dealt or produced to contact police.”

Four other men were jailed previously at Minshull Street Crown Court as part of the same drugs operation, including Riasat Ali (34) of Wyke Park, Lees and Asad Zulfiqar (29) of Heron Street, Werneth,