Men jailed over large-scale drugs enterprise

Five men have been sentenced after more than 34kg of drugs and 41 boxes of stolen cornflakes were seized during raids across West Yorkshire.

Leeds Crown Court heard on Friday how Kyle Bates, 34, spearheaded the drugs enterprise and worked with his stepfather Alan Tonks, his stepbrother Shane Gray, his cousin Mark Bates and Mark's neighbour Reece Britnell to deal drugs nationwide.

"Significant amounts" of cannabis, ketamine and cocaine were seized from properties linked to the group in Pontefract and Darrington, alongside Rolex watches and weapons.

The court heard during one of the raids Kyle Bates told officers, "What's up? It's only weed," before throwing cannabis out of a window.

During subsequent searches of the home in Western Avenue in Pontefract, officers also found cocaine and several Rambo-style knives.

Prosecuting, Rhianydd Clement told the court that a handwritten dealer list was also found which showed debts of significant quantities including amounts of £14,000.

The prosecutor said that Kyle Bates, who has 20 previous convictions including some for drug offences, was on licence for causing grievous bodily harm with intent when he was arrested.

The court was told analysis of the defendants' mobile phones revealed messages consistent with the supply of drugs and that the men had been working together.

Clement said: "Phone evidence supported that Kyle Bates was dealing in large quantities... and they show that Kyle and Alan Tonks were working together to supply drugs."

Raids at other addresses linked to the men found varying amounts of drugs, cash as well as cutting agents and other drug paraphernalia.

The court was told in another raid in December, officers searched a property at Adwick Terrace in Pontefract where Gray was located.

There, police seized crack cocaine, cocaine and cannabis as well as a survival knife and knuckle duster.

Referring to the cornflakes, the court was told the boxes were being transported in an HGV and the driver had parked on Green Lane in Pontefract where he fell asleep in his cab.

He was then woken in the early hours by an officer who informed him his lorry had been broken into.

The prosecutor said CCTV showed the suspects returning to the HGV over a three-hour period and that one of the vehicles used in the theft was insured to Gray.

The boxes of cornflakes were later found stashed in a rented out unit at West End Farm in Darrington.

Kyle Bates, 34, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, cannabis and ketamine and two offences of possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis.

The father-of-two was jailed for nine years and three months.

Mark Bates, 38, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine, cannabis and ketamine and possession of criminal property.

He was sentenced to six years and nine months imprisonment.

Alan Tonks, 47, of no fixed abode, admitted being concerned in possession with intent to supply cocaine, cannabis and amphetamine.

Tonks was jailed for six years and nine months.

Reece Britnell, 24, of no fixed abode, admitted possession with intent to supply cannabis.

The court heard he had never been in trouble before but found himself "sucked in" because of his use of cannabis.

He was given a six-month sentence.

Shane Grey, 38, of no fixed abode, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine, cannabis as well as possession with intent to supply cocaine, production of crack cocaine and handling stolen goods.

He was jailed for five years.

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