Drugs gang is sent to prison

Their boss, 28-year-old Darren Mensah, who lived a luxury life of fast cars and designer clothes and admitted making £80,000 from drugs, has been sentenced to 11 years for dealing in heroin. He also received eight years for dealing in cannabis, to run concurrently.

The judge told Mensah, who was living in New Road, Wootton Bassett, at the time of the offences, that he deserved everything he got.

Honourable Judge Jeremy Boggis QC said: "This was your enterprise and you must now face the consequences. Between you, you were responsible for a significant amount of the drugs supplied to Swindon.

"Darren Mensah, you were the leader, you recruited the rest of the gang and you lived a lavish lifestyle with fast cars and designer clothes."

Southampton Crown Court heard Mensah, who was arrested after a raid on February 13, 2004 in Newport, had used his persuasive personality to get people to do his dirty work.

Six members of his gang were given sentences ranging from six and a half to two years.

One of them was his mother, Barbara Buadawah-Esandol, who received four and a half years for money laundering a total of £12,700 and three years for dealing cannabis, to run concurrently.

The judge criticised Mensah, who has a previous conviction for drug dealing, for involving his 46-year-old mother, of Wallington in Surrey, in his criminal ring.

He said: "You knew what you were doing, having done it before. Your actions fall beneath contempt because of the way you recruited your mother to be the banker, and that you have enticed young, impressionable women to do your dealing."

Mensah's brother Jason, 29, of no fixed address, was given six and a half years for conspiring to sell Class A drugs. He was also given five years to be served at the same time for dealing cannabis.

One of his lieutenants, Ahmed Oke, 28, of Watford, was given six and a half years for conspiring to deal Class A drugs, as was Colin Page, 26, whose address was given as HMP Cardiff.

Michelle Foxworthy, 35, of Collingsmead, Eldene, was sent to prison for three years.

The court heard how the mother-of-two, who worked at the Blues Cafe in Havelock Street, Swindon, at the time, agreed to look after drugs for Mensah at her home in February 2004.

The family of 22-year-old Lucy Zerebecki, of Turnham Green, Freshbrook, wept as she was sentenced to two years for being a courier for Mensah.

The woman, who worked for Archers Brewery, carried drugs from London to Swindon on two occasions and kept them at her parents' home on December 3, 2003 and February 12, 2004.

Passing sentence, the judge said it would stem the flow of drugs into the town. "I commend all the officers for their work in this case," he said.

"And I hope that Swindon will be free of drugs for at least a little while."

Mensah has a prolific criminal past with offences ranging from burglary to drug dealing. In 2001 he was released from prison having served four years for dealing crack cocaine and police believe he immediately set up a base in the Swindon area to pay off previous drug debts.

Officers began a covert operation investigating Mensah in August 2003. During the investigation police interviewed 170 witnesses and talked to 48 suspects.

The first raid was carried out on October 20, 2003 on an address in Manchester Road when police arrested Oke.

On November 7, 2003 a house was raided in Purton High Street where £28,000 worth of drugs was seized.

Mensah wasn't arrested until February 13, 2004 at a raid in Newport following a search on a south London address where a submachine gun was seized.

First time dealing chain is broken

POLICE say that putting Darren Mensah and his cronies behind bars is the first time all the links in a drugs chain have been punished.

From the man at the top to those who were looking after the drugs they have all been sent to prison.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Acting Detective Inspector Craig Holden, says it means there is no one waiting to step into the shoes of the drug dealers.

He said: "This case is the first occasion that an entire dealing chain has been taken out, from the main dealer through to the sub-dealers, the couriers, the safe houses and ultimately the people laundering the money on behalf of Darren Mensah.

"It's hugely significant for Swindon because to take an entire dealing chain out from top to bottom means it's difficult for anyone to step into their shoes. To take out the whole operation we know we will have had a massive impact on the Swindon drug scene."

Police were also pleased with the sentences dished out to those responsible for dealing heroin and cocaine in Swindon.

Acting Detective Inspector Holden said: "We are exceptionally pleased with the outcome. It reflects the way that society feels about dealing in drugs, particularly Class A drugs. I think the sentences are a direct reflection of the public's feeling on drugs in our society."

Officers praised the public for helping to catch the drug dealers.

"In this inquiry the police were heavily reliant on members of the public coming forward," said Acting Detective Inspector Holden.

"Without the help of the general public this case would never even have got off the ground."

And he said that there were already signs that the investigation had hit the drug trade in Swindon.

"We know from information that has come to the police that the expectation of Darren Mensah's imprisonment has really brought home the dangers and risks associated with drug dealing."

Gareth Bethell