EIGHT members of a criminal gang who brought “fear and misery to the streets of St Helens” have been sent to prison for a combined total of more than 97 years.

Crimea Eugene Price, a crime kingpin from the travelling community, and seven others were involved in the supply of Class A drugs through the town, Liverpool Crown Court was told.

Price, who headed up the gang, used guns and violence to protect his supply chain.

He has been jailed for 25 years after being convicted of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to commit arson and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs

Two of his lieutenants, Christopher Lunt and David Doolan, were sentenced for 21 and 18 years respectively.

Six others including Christopher Kendall, Norman Worrall, Debbie Ballard, Stephen Finney and Mark Jervis were convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

During an the investigation detectives discovered the gang’s main players were responsible for gun shots being fired at Derbyshire Road, Derbyshire Hill on February 27, 2012, and Leonard Street, St Helens on February 14 2012.

They also plotted arson attacks at Leonard Street, Sutton, on July 31 2011; Waring Avenue, Parr, on February 13, 2012, Coronation Road, Windle, on February 21, 2012 and Ann Street West, Widnes, on March 30, 2012.

Detective Superintendent Richie Salter, said: "This has been a lengthy and complex investigation which has resulted in eight individuals receiving significant sentences which reflect the severity of the offences they have committed.

"These people had access to firearms and were not afraid to use them. They had a complete disregard for the safety and lives of others.

"When you look at the photographs of the damage caused by shots fired at a caravan parked on the driveway of a house on Leonard Street it really brings home the complete disregard that these people have for the lives of others - at the time of the shooting a five-year-old child was asleep on the bed.

“We are so fortunate that the child, or others who were in the caravan were not seriously injured, or killed."

He added: "The drugs they supplied, with the help of others, will have caused untold misery in local communities in and around St Helens.

"It is a circle of misery that serious criminals like these care nothing about. As long as they can line their pockets with the profits they make they don't care about the consequences caused by the drugs they deal.

"These people through their use of violence caused fear in their local community, but hopefully the results today show that we can do something to stop these people from terrorising our streets.

"Since these people were arrested members of the community have come forward and spoken to us and residents have also said that it has been much quieter and they feel safer and it is really encouraging that people now have the confidence to come forward and to speak to us.

"My message to any community who may find themselves in this position is to come forward as soon as possible.

“By working with us at the earliest opportunity you can help to make your community safer.

“We can do everything within our power to build up the evidence and take these type of people off the streets before they become a major problem."

  • Crimea Eugene Price, 34, of Tilbury Grove, Leeds, was sentenced to 25 years
  • David Doolan, 28, of Merton Road, Bootle, was sentenced to 18 years
  • Christopher Lunt, 27, of Meadowfield, Hindley Green was sentenced to 21 years
  • Christopher Kendall, 29, of Meadowfield, Hindley Green, was sentenced to 13 years
  • Norman Worrall, 58, of Worcester Road, Bootle, was sentenced to six years
  • Debbie Ballard, 43, of Cleveland Street, St Helens, was sentenced to five years
  • Stephen Finney, 21, of Lambourne Grove, St Helens, was sentenced to five years
  • Mark Jervis, 32, of Surrey Street, St Helens, was sentenced to four years