Gang sentenced for selling drugs across South West

A gang that sold millions of pounds worth of cocaine and cannabis across Devon and Cornwall has been sentenced.

Twelve people were sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on Thursday for the role they played in distributing at least 860lb (390kg) of cannabis, with a street value of £4m, and 41lb (18.8kg) of cocaine.

The court heard Jamie Chapman, 33, of Old North Road, Hertfordshire, bought drugs from London and Spain, which was then distributed by Philip Fallows, 36, of Cotmaton Road, Sidmouth, across the south-west of England.

Judge David Evans jailed Fallows for seven years and eight months and Chapman for six years and 10 months.

The court heard Chapman used his 67-year-old father Paul Chapman, of South Lawn, Sidford, as the main courier.

He made 47 weekly trips to Cheshunt in Hertfordshire to pick up cannabis and deliver money, the court heard.

Fallows ran a distribution network in Sidmouth, Exmouth, Ottery St Mary, Exeter and Cornwall, the court heard.

It lasted for 14 months before police broke it up, with Paul Chapman arrested as he arrived home with a car full of cannabis in May 2022 and then through simultaneous raids on the other gang members in late August 2023, the court was told.

Police said they seized £11,000 cash and drugs from Fallows' properties in Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton.

The amount of cash deposited into the gang's bank accounts was more than £350,000 but much larger sums were sent back to pay for previous supplies and fund expansion and new purchases, police said.

Twelve of the people charged pleaded guilty to conspiracy or drugs offences in March and one, Bayliss, went to trial.

In Thursday's sentencing, the judge told Fallows: "You sourced cannabis and cocaine from outside the area for transportation to the South West and made arrangements for its onward distribution.

"You made a handsome profit out of it."

Defence barristers told the court various defendants got involved because of their own drug use or financial hardship.

The following people admitted supplying class A or B drugs:

• Scott Bayliss, 44, of Albion Street, Exmouth, was sentenced to 210 hours unpaid community work and 20 days of rehabilitation activities

• Damien Carnell, 37, of Manstone Avenue, Sidmouth, was sentenced to two years and seven months

• Jamie Chapman, 33, of Old North Road, Hertfordshire was sentenced to six years and 10 months

• Paul Chapman, 67, of South Lawn, Sidford, was sentenced to three years and three months

• Jack Cullip, 24, of Willowbank, Camelford, was sentenced to two years and nine months

• George Fallows, 40, of Mill Street, Ottery St Mary, is to be sentenced at a later date

• Philip Fallows, 36, of Cotmaton Road, Sidmouth, was sentenced to seven years and eight months

• Matthew Harris, 55, of Albion Street, Exmouth, was sentenced to 240 hours unpaid work

• Gary Hedgeland, 31, of Sunny Hill, Ottery St Mary, was sentenced to one year and eight months suspended for two years with 210 hours unpaid work

• Jonathan Keene, 33, of Willow Walk, Crediton, was sentenced to 140 hours unpaid work

• Tia Pryor-Howard, 24, of Vaughan Road, Exeter, was sentenced to one year and nine months, suspended for two years, 180 hours unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days

• Matthew Topham, 30, of Willowbank, Camelford, was sentenced to four years and 10 months

One person admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis:

• Zoe Mardon, 47, of Waters Road, Salisbury, was sentenced to 70 hours unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity days

Follow BBC Cornwall on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].