SEVEN members of a drug gang have been jailed today for more than 19 years between them for supplying class A drugs in St Helens.

The group were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court following a joint investigation by TITAN regional organised crime unit and St Helens CID Organised Crime Team.

Members of the drug-dealing group were seen to deal drugs around St Helens and also in Leigh where they were also involved in the supply of Class A drugs.

A number of people were arrested during a high profile strike day in St Helens in November 2016.

Ten people had already been dealt with and sentenced at court.

Today the remaining seven were jailed for a total of more than 19 years for a variety of drug related offences:

Robert Nathaniel Wenton, 35, of Threadneedle Court, St Helens, was charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and was jailed for six years.

William Stephen Osu, 25, of Admiral Street, Liverpool, was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and was jailed for four years.

Katie Rawson, 34, of Threadneedle Court, Sutton, was charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine and was jailed for two years and six months.

Dean Weaver, 25, of Peterlee Close, Thatto Heath, was charged with two counts of supplying heroin and two counts of supply crack cocaine and was jailed for three years and four months.

A 17 year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with three counts of supplying heroin and three counts of supplying crack cocaine and was given a two-year rehabilitation order.

Michael Eccleston, 18, of Colesborne Road, Liverpool, was charged with four counts of supplying heroin and five counts of supplying crack cocaine and was jailed for one year and four months.

Calum Ogden, 21, of Hempstead Close, Sutton Heath, was charged with three counts of supplying heroin and three counts of supplying crack cocaine and was jailed for two years and four months.

Six of the defendants pleaded guilty.

Rawson was found guilty following a trial earlier this month.

A further 10 had been jailed earlier this year as part of the same operation:

Terence Thompson, 51, of Lakemoor Close, Sutton, was sentenced to three years imprisonment for 8 x supplying heroin and 7 x supplying crack cocaine.

Kinley Johnson, 42, of Glamorgan Close, The Shires, was sentenced to two years eight months imprisonment for 1 x being concerned in the supply of heroin, 2 x supplying heroin and 2 x of supplying crack cocaine.

Mark O’Neill, 48, of Mona Street, West Park, was sentenced to two years eight months imprisonment for 4 x concerned supply heroin / 4 x concerned supply crack cocaine / 1 x supply crack cocaine and heroin.

Kieron Stubbs, 26, of Greenwood Court, Clock Face, was sentenced to two years eight months imprisonment for 3 x supplying heroin / 3x supply crack cocaine / 1 x possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

Wayne Phillips, 29, of Cleveland Street, Peasley Cross, was sentenced to two years four months imprisonment for 2 x concerned supply heroin / 2 x concerned supply crack cocaine. 

Gillian Latham, 35, of Marsden Close, St Helens, was sentenced to two years two months imprisonment for 2 x supply heroin / 2 x supply crack cocaine.

Stephen Duffy, 26, of no fixed address, was sentenced to three years four months imprisonment for possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and 2 x supply heroin / 1 x supply crack cocaine.

Louis Barton, 23, of Hayes Avenue, Prescot, was sentenced to two years give months imprisonment for 1 x concerned supply heroin / 2 x concerned supply crack cocaine.

Matthew Cottington, 34, of Rivington Avenue, Windleshaw, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for 5 x supply heroin / 4 x supply crack cocaine.

Melanie Linzi Clash, 41, of Cooper Street, Cowley Hill, was sentenced to two years six months imprisonment for 2 x supply heroin and 1 x supply crack cocaine.

Detective Sergeant Steven O’Neill said: “Organised crime groups like this, who deal in the wholesale supply and distribution of controlled drugs, don’t care about the impact that supply of drugs has in our communities.

“But I would like to reassure the decent members of our communities that Merseyside Police is committed to tackling the supply of drugs and we will continue to proactively tackle criminal gangs who think nothing of flooding the streets with dangerous drugs in order to profit from other people's misery.

“The main focus of this operation was to reduce the likelihood of the children being criminally exploited and hopefully today’s sentencing will prevent other children and juveniles from becoming embroiled in a life of drug dealing and criminality.

“Feedback following the operation has highlighted the positive impact it has had on the area. Today’s sentences will further assist by removing the main core of the crime group that was operating in the area.”

Anyone with information about drug dealing in their community can call Merseyside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.