Burnley drug gang jailed

Burnley Crown Court was told how Bradley Turner (18), Luke Barrit (23), Daniel Turner (26), Ben Roberts (24) and Lee Fleming (23) were involved in the months-long enterprise which came to light after more than a quarter kilo of cannabis, worth £3,000 on the streets, was found when police stopped a car in Colne in October 2010.

Officers searched properties and found shoe boxes with names and figures - “tick lists” in the lids, bags, cash, digital scales and more drugs.

Skunk cannabis worth more than £1,800 was discovered when police raided Bradley Turner’s home in January last year, but he claimed it was for his own use.

The defendant, who had been using the drug since he was 14, was involved in the operation for eight months.

Bradley Turner, who was found with a £850 stash of cannabis last June, after he had been arrested and bailed, was locked up for four years three months.

Daniel Turner, who attacked a man and smashed his jaw in two places in an unprovoked assault while on bail, was given four years two months.

Barrit, who had lost his job and saw supplying cannabis as a business, received two years eight months, Fleming, the driver in the agreement, received three years two months and Roberts, said to have set up the collection of the quarter kilo of cannabis, was given 16 months.

A proceeds of crime hearing will be held later.

Bradley Turner, of Stoneyhurst Avenue; Daniel Turner, of Russell Court; Barrit, of Redvers Street; Fleming, of The Spinney; and Roberts, of Foxcroft, all Burnley, admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis between December 2009 and January 2011.

Bradley Turner also admitted possessing the drug with intent to supply and Daniel Turner also admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Mr Peter Horgan (prosecuting) said each defendant played their part in a “significant effort to supply quantities of cannabis for commercial profit.”

Bradley Turner owned up to his part in the conspiracy on the basis he was involved in supply between May 2010 and January last year and sold drugs to fund his own habit.

Mr Tim Brennand (defending Fleming), an aircraft part repairer, said he had been of impeccable character and was an “active fund-raiser” for charity. The defendant got addicted to cannabis chilling with friends and had become paranoid and self absorbed because of it.

The barrister said: “If anyone wants to think cannabis is okay, that cannabis is something that can be managed, that cannabis is a soft drug, this is a classic case that makes it plain it is anything but.”

Sentencing, Judge Beverly Lunt said: “Anybody who becomes a drug dealer must understand there has to be an immediate custodial sentence.”