Shropshire drugs bosses made £2 million

Jonathan Rochford and Scott Dodd had variously directed the sale of cocaine, heroin and cannabis on the streets of Telford and Shrewsbury for almost a year.

The hub of the conspiracy was the Phoenix Car Centre in Shrewsbury, set up by Rochford and Dodd, and used as a front for the "highly organised and commercial" drugs operation.

At Birmingham Crown Court, confiscation orders were imposed on both men following extensive proceeds of crime investigations.

In what was described as a joint enterprise with Dodd, between July, 2011 and March, 2012, the benefit to Rochford, 31, a former Ministry of Defence worker, was said to have been just over £1 million.

Judge Michael Chambers was told that Rochford's realisable assets amounted to £101,000, which includes monies from the sale of property and vehicles linked to the second hand car business.

Rochford, of Lake End Drive, Brookside, who was jailed for eight years, has six months to pay the confiscation order or face a further two years in prison.

Mr Michael Duck, prosecuting, applied for the second hand car business to put in the hands of a receiver to be able to trace the cars.

Dodd, 36, had challenged the benefit figure against him claiming he had not played a major part in the supply of Class A drugs.

Judge Michael Chambers said that he had listened and watched covert audio and visual surveillance recordings featuring the Dodd and other conspirators.

"The defendant was not a reliable or creditable witness and I am satisfied that he did play a leading role," said Judge Chambers.

Dodd had been part of large scale conspiracy with Rochford and others which was carried out in "a determined and ruthless manner" and there was a common theme of threats and the use of violence to collect debts and enforce discipline within the conspiracy.

He said that Dodd was at the "top of the pyramid" sourcing and supplying cocaine, heroin and cannabis.

Judge Chambers ruled that Dodd had a criminal life-style and his benefit from the conspiracy was around £935,000, with a further £45,000 from his general criminal conduct.

However, Dodd had no realisable or hidden assets and a confiscation order was made in the sum of just £430 - cash recovered from the defendant when he was arrested.

The court heard that Dodd, of Ludlow Drive, Stirchley, who is serving a 10 year sentence, remains the subject of a previous confiscation order for £26,000 from a drugs conviction five years ago.

At various hearings throughout the year a further 22 people, who were all jailed for their part in the drugs conspiracy, have been made subject to Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation orders.