‘Organised’ gang flooded streets with ?186k worth of drugs

Six people have been given a combined total of 23 years in prison for their joint involvement in selling Class A drugs valued at more than GBP186,000 in Boston[1] over a seven-and-half-month period. The gang was led by David Leggatt, 51, who processed cocaine into crack cocaine and was sentenced on the basis of 108 drug wraps a day. Police seized crack cocaine and heroin with a street value of about GBP50,000 along with and thousands of pounds in cash during four raids in Witham Bank, Mandarin Drive and Tennyson Close in the town on May 10, 2021.

The police’s involvement began with the arrests of couple Joanna Calcada and Ivo Gruntins in September 2020 over the possession of wraps of Class A drugs. Within days, Calcada was arrested again, this time for selling a wrap to a known drug user. The police then observed all of the gang members and their movements between their various properties – with some seen to supply drugs.

Poll: What’s the worst road in Lincolnshire for potholes?[2] Calcada and Gruntins were caught with drug wraps, money, scales, phones and dealer lists by police when they visited a property in High Street in March 2021. Coordinated raids followed on May 10 at properties linked to Leggatt.

A safe containing scales, GBP47,800 worth of wraps and larger quantities of cocaine and heroin was found in Tennyson Close. Police found equipment used to turn cocaine into crack cocaine at a flat rented by Leggatt in Witham Bank West, and GBP9,372.77 was found at the Leggatt’s partner’s address in Mandarin Drive. A further GBP11,265 was seized from Leggatt’s mother’s home in Old Duke Road.

In July that year, police called at another flat in Witham Bank West, where Tammy Newark lived, and arrested her, Gail Murphy and Calcada. Officers seized scales, drug dealing paraphernalia, phones, GBP1,448.70, dealer lists and small amounts of Class A drugs. Newark had 20 wraps of crack cocaine secreted in an intimate part of her body and Gail Murphy had a wrap of crack cocaine in her hand.

The following day, police visited Tony Benge’s home in Middlecott Close. He was a street dealer directed by Newark. His Honour Judge Simon Hirst told the defendants during sentencing at Lincoln Crown Court on April 12, 2023: “Over the course of a period of seven-and-half months or so between September 1, 2020 and July 15, 2021, you were all involved in selling Class A drugs on the streets of Boston.

“David Leggatt was the head of your organised criminal group and controlled the supply of controlled drugs. Accordingly, he was involved throughout. At the mention hearing on March 31, 2023, Mr Leggatt accepted that he would be sentenced on the basis of about 108 wraps a day, equating to a little under 2kg of Class A drugs, which equates to about GBP186,840 at street level deals.

“Plainly, in all your cases, your offending is so serious that only sentences of immediate custody can be imposed.” The judge told Leggatt: “Plainly, yours was a leading role. You sourced the drugs, turned cocaine into crack cocaine and organised other conspirators to prepare the drugs for sale and supply the drugs. “Your role continued, at the very least to have an awareness of what was going on in the conspiracy, after your remand into custody in May 2021.”

Tammy Newark, also known as Murphy.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Adam Brown, said after the sentencings: “I’d like to give thanks to all officers who were involved in the investigation, from the response officers, officers from the tactical support team through to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

“This type of criminality will not be tolerated, and we will continue our efforts to disrupt illegal drug supply in our community in Boston.” Ring leader David Leggatt, 51, of Mandarin Drive, Boston admitted two charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was sentenced to nine years and nine months. Gail Murphy, 53, of Horseshoe Lane, Kirton, who was involved in street dealing and making wraps, pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiring to supply Class A drugs.

She was jailed for two years and three months. Tammy Newark, (also known as Tammy Murphy) 58, of Witham Bank West, Boston, who organised dealers and allowed drugs to be sold from her flat, pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiring to supply Class A drugs and was jailed four years and eight months. Street dealer Tony Benge, 37, of Middlecott Close, Boston pleaded guilty to two charges of supplying Class A drugs and was sentenced to two years and four months.

Joanna Calcada, 46, of Chapel Street, Boston admitted two charges of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and was jailed for two years and seven months.

Street dealer Ivo Gruntins, 29, of no fixed address, admitted supplying class A drugs and was jailed for one year and ten months.

References

1. ^ Boston (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
2. ^ What’s the worst road in Lincolnshire for potholes? (xd.wayin.com)