Drug dealers involved in bringing vast amounts of cocaine and heroin into Lincolnshire were given lengthy jail sentences at the end of a series of court cases which have taken place over several months.
Sentences passed on Friday on the final 12 defendants brought the total jail sentences imposed by Judge John Pini QC to over 250 years.
In total 25 people were sentenced in connection to the major investigation.
Although police stopped couriers on three occasions, seizing thousands of pounds worth of drugs, the gangs had the financial backing to quickly bring in replacement stock.
Some of the drugs seized were of such high purity that police believed it was “straight off the boat” from South America.
When officers carried out a series of searches on homes in Lincolnshire, Essex and South Yorkshire they seized thousands of pounds in cash together with large amounts of drugs.
Package of cocaine. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
At the end of the case the Judge praised the work of the team of police officers and CPS workers involved in the investigation and prosecution of the case.
Judge Pini officially commended members of the team including Det Insp Paul McMahon, who headed up the investigation, Det Sgt Ian Brooks and Det Con Lynn Foster.
He said: “These cases are absolutely exhausting for the police to put together. They involve vast amounts of work. They are time intensive and they are cost intensive.”
The judge said the work involved in investigations such as this affected the home and family lives of the officers involved and members of the team had gone well beyond what was expected.
Seized cocaine. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
John Hallissey, prosecuting, said consignments of cocaine were brought in from Sheffield on at least 17 occasions between January 2017 and June 2018. A kilo of the drug, with a street value of about £50,000, was believed to have been delivered on each journey. Smaller amounts were supplied from Essex during a number of trips.
“Martin Murphy and Daniel Beeken were very much the heads of the operation. Cocaine and heroin was brought in from Sheffield for onward distribution in and around Lincolnshire.”
Mr Hallissey said the operation Sheffield supply chain overlapped with a drug supply network based in Skegness and there was a separate but linked supply chain delivering from Essex.
Police intercepted deliveries on three occasions but the drug supply operation managed to continue before finally being brought to an end in the summer of 2018
Daniel Beeken meeting Martin Murphy (The Birds public house, Spalding, December 2018). Photo: Lincolnshire Police
Judge Pini, passing sentence, said: “This was a wholesale business which was professionally run for very significant profits.
“The evidence showed that Beeken and Murphy often worked in tandem. Both were strictly hands on. They were described in evidence as joined at the hip.”
The two men had others working for them collecting money and bringing in the drugs and below them was a network of street dealers.
Martin Murphy meeting Daniel Beeken (The Birds public house, Spalding, December 2018). Photo: Lincolnshire Police
On Friday, the final 12 defendants were sentenced. They were:
Sheraz Mohammed , 42, of Prince of Wales Road, Sheffield, the head of the Sheffield supply chain, admitted one charge of conspiracy. He was jailed for 15 years and nine months
Nicky Joseph, 40, of Eden Court, Rochford, Essex, the head of the Essex supply chain, admitted a single charge of conspiracy. He was jailed for 13 years and six months
Martin Marsh, 33, of Beck Bank, Quadring Fen, admitted two charges of conspiracy. He was jailed for 12 years and seven months
Jason Bloor , 39, of Church Lane, Skegness, admitted two charges of conspiracy and a further charge of possession of drugs with intent to supply. Bloor, who was head of the Skegness supply operation, was jailed for 11 years and six months
Mohammed Ali, 31, of Horndean Road, Sheffield, admitted one charge of conspiracy. He was jailed for 11 years and three months
Matthew Creese, 35, of Clough Road, Gosberton Risegate, admitted two charges of conspiracy and was jailed for 10 years and eight months. He was convicted by a jury earlier this week of two unconnected charges of sexual assault on a child under the age of 13 for which he was given a one year consecutive sentence. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and given a 10 year sexual harm protection order
Johnathon Kendrick, 39, St Laurence Close, Surfleet, admitted two charges of conspiracy. He was jailed for 10 years and six months
Joshua Wong, 29, of Ward Cresent, Fishtoft, admitted two charges of conspiracy. He was jailed for nine years and seven months
Paul Webb, 34, of Linchfield Road, Market Deeping, admitted two charges of conspiracy and was jailed for nine years
Mohammed Waqar, 32, of Firth Park Crescent, Sheffield, admitted one charge of conspiracy. He was jailed for seven years and nine months
Lee Syndercombe, also known as Quinn Moncler, 33, of Edinburgh Drive, Kirton, Boston, admitted two offences of conspiracy. He was jailed for seven years and three months
Amandeep Singh, 41, a former Spalding taxi driver, now of Ridgmount Street, Bedford, admitted one charge of conspiracy. He was jailed for six years
Nicky Joseph meeting Neil Dodd (Dodd sat in the Rover) at Gallions Reach retail park in London. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
The 13 defendants sentenced on Thursday were :
Martin Murphy, 51, of Windsor Bank, Boston, admitted two charges of conspiracy and was jailed for 18 years and eight months
Daniel Beeken, 41, of Campains Lane, Deeping St Nicholas, was jailed for 16 years and six months. He admitted two charges of conspiracy
Paul Wilkinson, 42, of Hudson Way, Skegness, denied one charge of conspiracy but was found guilty. He denied a further charge of conspiracy relating to drug supply from Leicester into Skegness. He was jailed for 14 years and four months
Timothy Fisher, 34, of Cygnet Court, Spalding, denied two charges of conspiracy but was gound guilty. He was jailed for 14 years
Luke Culpin, 32, of Snowdrop Place, Spalding; denied two charges of conspiracy to supply drugs but was found guilty after a trial and jailed for 14 years
Darren Palmer, 48, of Windsor Bank, Boston, denied one charge of conspiracy but was found guilty. He also admitted illegal possession of a mobile phone in prison. He was jailed for 14 years
Neil Dodd, 56, of Spalding Common, Spalding, admitted two charges of conspiracy and was jailed for 13 years
Scott Hurford ,44, of Park Road, Spalding; admitted two charges of conspiracy. He was jailed for 12 years. The court was told that Hurford had previously received a 26 year jail sentence in Thailand for a drugs supply offence from which he was released early
Heidi Murphy, 46, of Woodthorpe Avenue, Boston; denied two charges of conspiracy but was found guilty after a trial. She was jailed for 12 years
Hayley Roberts , 29, of Mawson Gardens, Wainfleet; admitted one charge of conspiracy and three charges of possession of cannabis. She was jailed for five years and eight months
Rosie Warren, 27, of Clough Road, Gosberton Risegate, admitted conspiracy and was jailed for four years and six months
Charlotte Brooks,29, of Mawson Gardens, Wainfleet; admitted one charge of conspiracy and one charge of possessing cannabis. She was jailed for three years and two months
Rebecca Patrick, 30, of Eden Court, Rochford, Essex; the partner of Nicky Joseph who headed up the Essex operation, admitted allowing her home to be used for storing cocaine. She was given a six month jail sentence suspended for 18 months
Deputy Chief Constable Jason Harwin, the National Police Chief Council’s lead for drugs, said: “I welcome these sentences which have been achieved through the dedication and determination of EMSOU and Lincolnshire officers. Drug dealers cause devastating damage to communities and the vulnerable people who they supply.
“When dealers are put behind bars, others simply fill the void they have left. We will continue to bring drug dealers to justice, but we have to see this as a wider societal and public health issue that the police cannot solve on their own. There must be a focus on supporting and diverting those that need illicit drugs to eliminate the problem.”
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Everest Xpress has been tantalising taste buds in Lincoln for over a decade with its Nepalese cuisine and the business recently added a restaurant to its successful (relocated) takeaway.
The family-owned business now operates from the unit formerly occupied by The Bombay Restaurant on The Strait in Lincoln. It is run by Kamal Basyal, Suresh Bashyal, Saraswati Dahal, and Kamal Bandari.
The takeaway had previously been located on Lincoln High Street for 10 years from June 2012 and built up a regular loyal customer base.
The Everest Xpress team: Back row – chef team Anna Pompova, Prem Kharel and Rahul Anasi; front row – chef Suresh Bashyal and food quality control manager Sharad Dahal. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Chicken Nepal curry. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Everest Xpress new restaurant and takeaway is located on The Strait in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
After that premises was taken over by Taco Bell, the family bought the unit on The Strait in February 2021 and renovated it, which created four new jobs to add to the existing staff team. The takeaway side of the business opened at the new premies in March 2021 before the restaurant welcomed its first customers on April 14 this year.
The Lincolnite were invited for food tasting at the new restaurant and it certainly exceeded expectation with an array of delicious flavours. Nepalese curry is less oily and Everest Xpress also uses a range of Nepalese herbs and spices, including one called Timur (Sichuan in English).
Take a look inside. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The top floor of the restaurant. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Hariyali Lamb. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The same favourites are on the menu, as well as some newer additions including Katmandu Chicken Masala, Honey Chilli Chicken, and Vegetable Malabar.
Sharad Dahal, food quality control manager, told The Lincolnite: “We are getting more passing customers, including from outside of Lincoln, and their feedback is really good and the restaurant is going well. Our regular customers are also returning and we appreciate their support.
“Thank you to the customers for their support for 10 years on the High Street and we are excited to welcome them, and new customers, to the restaurant.”
Boneless chicken tikka pieces from the grill. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Sikh kebab with mint sauce. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Saag aloo. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Inside the restaurant. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Owner Kamal Basyal said: “We are now open as a fully licensed restaurant and have been receiving very good feedback from our existing, as well as new, customers.”
Everest Xpress is open Tuesday to Thursday (5pm-10pm), Friday and Saturday (5pm-11pm), and Sunday (5pm-10pm).
A bid to get Lincolnshire County Council leaders to support a Windfall tax on oil and energy companies to tackle the cost of living crisis failed on Friday.
A motion put forward by Labour Group leader Rob Parker was supported across the Lib Dems and Independents.
However, Conservative members felt the government should be left to make its own decisions around how it helps residents. One councillor even said no-one had complained to him about problems.
Councillor Parker told members the measure – a one-off tax imposed by a government a on an unexpectedly large profit – was “essential to making sure that people who are currently finding it difficult, don’t find it even harder to make ends meet”.
“It is right and proper that what one might call obscene levels of profit should be used for public good,” he said.
Following discussion he said: “People in Lincolnshire have no idea what the conservative county council is going to do… the best we’ve got out of this is ‘let’s leave it to the government because we can trust them’.”
He added that it “tells a story” that only three Conservatives spoke against the motion as opposed to the seven who spoke for it.
Independent Councillor Phil Dilks said: “Many are already working all hours and they’re struggling to put food on the table.
“Now slapped with energy bills, many of them doubled, they certainly can’t pay… the chancellor tells us, it’s going to get even worse.”
“As food banks wonder if they’ll be able to operate next week, North Sea oil and gas are raking in billions.
“BP is making more money than they know what to do with… the windfall tax is surely the fairest way restoring the balance.”
Another supporter was Liberal Democrat Stephen Bunney who said: “The cost of living crisis is not going to disappear, in the near future it’s likely to get worse as the international situation continues to be far from stable.”
“The measures so far announced by the Chancellor are to be welcomed do not go far enough to tackle fuel poverty,” he added.
“This will give … breathing space to work on the monetary and fiscal policies that are required.”
Conservative council leader Martin Hill acknowledged the perfect storm of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and accepted there was a cost of living crisis.
However, he said there had already been “a massive amount of money given to tax payers” including £22bn for tax rebates or energy bill discounts, the rise in the NI payment threshold, universal credits, national living wage rises and child welfare spending.
“We need to remind ourselves that the government is not saying it’s going to do nothing.
“The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister have been very clear that in addition to the massive support which is currently being given out, they will give further support in terms of what needs to happen in the future,” he said.
“We should accept the government is going to do what it has to do. Which is why I will not be supporting this motion,” he added.
Councillor Anton Dani appeared to doubt there was even a problem.
“In Boston, when I go to surgeries or any charities, I haven’t met yet somebody who will complain to me as a councillor or as a representative of a council that’s a deprived place… I haven’t met anyone who complained to me that they have problems and struggling,” he said.
He said the Government had “done a great job” over the past two years and that “if you look at the economy” there were still cars being sold and that the prices were still up.
“My fellow councillors have a good cause to talk about it, but let’s not exaggerate and make it a drama,” he said.
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