September 21, 2018 8.09 am This story is over 71 months old

Hare courser and drug dealer jailed for 13 years

He was part of wider drug ring
Thomas Jaffray was jailed for 13 years for dealing drugs after he was caught hare coursing in Lincolnshire.

A man who was previously convicted of hare coursing in Lincolnshire has now been jailed after an investigation into a £100 million drug dealing ring.

Thomas Jaffray, 35, from Middlesbrough was jailed for 13 years and 4 months on Wednesday after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis, and conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime.

The investigation was carried out by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NW ROCU) as Jaffray and eight others were jailed for a combined total of more than 100 years at Manchester Crown Court.

The men were caught supplying millions of pounds worth of drugs to contacts in the North East of England.

The court heard how the drugs ring was run like a business, with the men wooing clients with expensive trips where he touted for their business.

CCTV of Jaffray and two associates was shown to the court – the trio were seen celebrating New Year’s Eve with table service at an exclusive Edinburgh hotel and bar, spending thousands of pound on drinks and rooms whilst meeting with clients who they hoped to do business with.

Thomas Jaffray was convicted for hare coursing in Lincolnshire earlier this year.

Chief Inspector at Lincolnshire Police, Phil Vickers said: “For some time we have said that hare coursing can be linked to organised and serious crime and this conviction is another example of this.

“Jaffray was convicted of a hare coursing offence in Digby Fen earlier this year, handed a fine and a Criminal Behaviour Order was imposed on him preventing him from coming to Lincolnshire with dogs that could be used for hare coursing.

Jaffray’s dog was called Lucky and a court order saw it taken away and placed in the care of loving owners.

“This was a major result for us as this was also the first time that we managed to rehome a dog that had been used for hare coursing.  The dog in found in his possession was called Lucky and a court order saw it taken away and placed in the care of loving owners.

“We will continue to tackle hare coursing and take every opportunity to share intelligence with other force’s to ensure that any organised crime is fully exposed.”