Further members of North Wales drugs conspiracy jailed

Christopher Rutter, 40, of Tan Y Gwalia, Denbigh, Bexley Jordan Myers, 27, of Crescent Road, Rhyl and Hayden George Pendleton, 36, of Dam Wood, Liverpool appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday, December 20.

Rutter faced two charges of supplying a class A drug; cocaine and MDMA and two counts of supplying class B drugs; cannabis. 

Myers was facing two charges of conspiring to supply class B drugs (cannabis) and one of supplying class A drug (cocaine).

Pendleton was in court faced with a charge of conspiring to supply a controlled class B drug.

The court heard how this was a "large-scale operation" with a plot which ran for several months, between May 2020 and November 2020.

Read more:

Kinmel Bay women avoid jail despite role in North Wales drugs conspiracy

Ember-Jade Wong prosecuting told the court how the gang was brought down as part of 'Operation Blue Deer' carried out by North Wales Police.

Both Pendleton and Myers had pleaded guilty to the charges they faced on June 4, 2021.

Rutter previously pleaded not guilty but was re-arraigned and pleaded guilty ahead of a trial scheduled for June 29.

During the six-month conspiracy, thousands of pounds worth of drugs were transported between Liverpool and North Wales.

Ms Wong told the court that, at around 4.45pm on May 27 2020, Myers was spotted travelling in a black Volkswagen Passat belonging to his partner Laraisa Thomas who was previously handed a suspended sentence for her role in the operation.

That day, Myers travelled to the Speke area of Liverpool, where Pendelton - described as an 'upstream supplier' - lived.

There was, the court was told, 'constant contact' between Pendleton, Myers and Organised Crime Gang leader Jake Kiernan (who was previously sentenced to two years and eight months for his role).

PIC: Bexley Myers.

Regular trips between Rhyl and the Speke area were made by Myers, including on August 5, 11, 16 and 24, as well as September 14.

It was on October 17 that North Wales Police had been observing both Myers and his partner Thomas as they once again travelled to Speke, this time in a Ford Fiesta.

They were observed outside Pendleton's address putting items into the boot of their car.

The vehicle was stopped at the Northop services later that day and officers said they detected a 'strong smell'.

Three large bags were found in the boot of the vehicle, as well as another smaller bag. A total of 3.5kg of cannabis was found in the vehicle, worth a street value of around £35,000.

During a seperate search of their home address, police found other items including 27.2g of cannabis resin and a dealers list which later led to Kiernan's fingerprints being found on it.

Police also found 28g and 21g of cocaine in bags at the couple's home.

On November 2, a vehicle including Pendleton, Kiernan and Peter Noble - who was earlier handed a suspended sentence - was stopped by police at Rhuddlan and found to contain £15,390 in cash.

PIC: Hayden Pendleton.

All three appearing in court were arrested on May 5 2021.

Myers claimed that cocaine found at his property was being held as a way of paying back money he owed to dealers in the Rhyl area.

Sentencing the trio, Judge Niclas Parry said that the operation saw the 'North West of England profit at the expense of the communities, people and businesses of North Wales'.

Pendleton, who Judge Parry said 'made it all possible, was sentenced to three years and eight months.

Myers was handed nine months for the conspiracy to supply class B drug charges and 18 months for the conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Rutter was handed a two year sentence for the conspiracy to supply cocaine and MDMA charges and faced no separate penalty for the class B count.