Five jailed for drugs offences
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Five people have been jailed for their involvement in the distribution of drugs.
Keith Jeremy, Christopher Kennelly, Matthew Cox, Ashley Hutchinson, and Sarah Johnson, were all jailed following a six-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
Following an investigation from our ROCUWM, the group were found to be distributing Class A drugs and were involved in the production of cannabis.
In February 2021, Johnson, 45, was found to be renting a unit in Hockley, Birmingham, which was being used to grow cannabis with the aid of Kennelly.
Jeremy and Kennelly were found to be using encrypted communications platforms, which were used for the commercial supply of Class A drugs including crack cocaine and heroin.
After pleading guilty to conspiring to supply Class A drugs, Jeremy, 59, of no fixed address, was jailed for 19 years and six months.
Kennelly, 44, of Springfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was found guilty regarding the cultivation of cannabis, and was jailed for 14 years and five months.
Cox, 33, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, and for possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply, and was jailed for nine years.
Hutchinson, 58, of Mount Wise, Newquay, Cornwall, was jailed for six years and five months after being found to be in possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply, and received cocaine from Jeremy via encrypted communications.
Johnson, 45, of College Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham, was jailed for four years.
The group all conspired with multiple roles which contributed to the supply of dozens of kilos of drugs, and were all sentenced on 25 July.
Investigations like this form part of Operation Target – our ongoing commitment to tackle serious and organised crime in the West Midlands.
With partners around the Midlands region, we’re keeping up the pressure on those who harm communities through guns, drugs, child exploitation and modern slavery.