Telford family members in court for sentencing over major drugs conspiracy
Six members of a Telford family were at the heart of a large scale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in the town for more than a year, a court has heard.
A couple, along with five other men, acted as street dealers and couriers in the regular supply of crack cocaine and heroin in Telford over an 18-month period.
Thousands of pounds worth of drugs were sold by the conspirators dubbed the "Bushell Group" by police during an extensive covert operation.
At the start of a two-day sentencing hearing at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday it was revealed that two undercover officers infiltrated the group who were based in the Wellington and Hadley areas of Telford.
Drugs were sold from the homes of two of the conspirators and a third property in the centre of Wellington was used to stash drugs ready for supply.
In the dock yesterday were Neil Bushell, 35, his brother Robert Bushell, 39, his wife Melanie, formerly Thompson, and her 21-year-old son Sean Thompson, 21.
The Bushell brothers' sister Sally, 31, and her former partner Stuart Waterhouse, 34, and Graham Stewart, 44, and his wife Bernadette, 50, were also in dock. Also to be sentenced are five other men – Matthew Thompson, 42, no relation to the other Thompson; Liam Riggs, 21, Lee Moseley, 41, Kenneth Hogg, 39, and 45-year-old John Gough.
Judge Philip Parker heard yesterday that the drugs conspiracy ran from November 2012 and May last year.
Mr Michael Duck, prosecuting, said police became aware of the supply of Class A drugs by the defendants as part of a wider investigation into drug dealing in the Telford area, codenamed Operation Sift.
He said that police tactics included the use of the two undercover officers known as "Tony" and "Steve" as well as video surveillance and audio recordings and the analysis of a large number of mobile phones recovered when the defendants were arrested in a series of raids in May last year.
Mr Duck said that the two Bushell brothers played a leading role in the conspiracy and were backed up by Robert Bushell's wife Melanie Bushell, and both Sally Bushell and Stuart Waterhouse.
Matthew Thompson's home was a source of drugs and Bernadette Stewart was constantly on the front line in the street in the Wellington area.
Seven of the defendants – Robert Bushell, Stuart Waterhouse, Bernadette and Graham Stewart, Kenneth Hogg, Sean Thompson and Sally Bushell have all admitted conspiring to supply crack cocaine and heroin. Bernadette Stewart and Matthew Thompson have admitted a charge of being concerned in the supply of heroin.
Melanie Bushell and Graham Stewart have each admitted a charge of allowing their respective homes to be used for supply of Class A drugs.
Liam Riggs has pleaded guilty to a charge of being concerned in the supply of drugs. He also faces sentence for a totally separate matter relating to an assault in April last year.
The hearing continues.
