Five offenders were sentenced to a total of seven years and three months at Worcester Crown Court
Kenneth Stuchbery(Image: West Mercia Police)
A gang which flooded a charming market town with supply class A drugs has been jailed for more than seven years.
West Mercia Police smashed a drugs ring which operated in Leominster, 12 miles from Hereford, after they stopped a car which had just left Birmingham back on September 23, 2024.
The driver Philip Oldaker was stopped by officers as he travelled along the A449 Kidderminster.
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A passenger, Ethan Pound, was questioned and officers discovered a quantity of cocaine and cannabis.
An investigation was launched which revealed that this journey was to collect drugs destined to be sold in Leominster.
Ethan Pound(Image: West Mercia Police)
The head of the operation was identified as Kenneth Stuchbery and the net closed in on others.
Stuchbery oversaw Oldaker, Pound, Shane Butler and Jade Field who themselves had their own roles in the drug dealing ring within Leominster.
On 26 November, police conducted simultaneous warrants which led to Stuchbery being charged for conspiracy to supply class A drugs – cocaine and remanded into prison.
The investigation revealed a wealth of evidence demonstrating Stuchbery’s management of the drug supply enterprise.
He would orchestrate the collection and sale of the cocaine as well as reaping the financial benefit from his offending.
All five pled guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs – cocaine and at Worcester Crown Court on 23 May they were sentenced as follows: –
- Kenneth Stuchbery, 37, of Bridge Street, Leominster, was sentenced to four years and six months for his significant role in the drug dealing enterprise and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187.
- Ethan Pound, 23, of no fixed abode – two years and nine months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228.
- Philip Oldaker, 60, of Wyson Avenue, Brimfield, Ludlow, Shropshire – two years suspended, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187 and costs of £80.
- Shane Butler, 27, of Worcester Road, Leominster – two years suspended and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187.
- Jade Field, 31, of Paradise Court, Leominster – 12 months, suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187.
Lead investigator DC Kyle Hopkins, of Hereford Proactive CID, said: “We are pleased to have broken this drug ring operating within the small market town of Leominster, managed by Kenneth Stuchbery.
“The misery and suffering brought about by drugs into our communities is well documented and Stuchbery committed these offences for financial gain.
“The sentences imposed demonstrate that offending of this nature will not be tolerated by West Mercia Police and detectives will relentlessly pursue those who commit it, regardless of where they operate, and will always seek to prosecute those who cause harm to the people we are here to protect and serve.”