Seven members of a county lines drug gang that “flooded Harrogate with heroin and crack cocaine” have been sentenced today.

Four people from Harrogate were part of the gang that appeared in Leeds Crown Court today.

They were Martin Gilham, 53, of Bewerley Road, Kim Aylott, 37, of Belmont Road, Christopher Patrick Hollowed, 57, of Swinton Court and Nathan Alexis Wilsher, 38, of Fairfax Avenue.

Gilham was jailed while the others received suspended sentences.

Harris Khan, 24, of Grantham Road in Bradford and the two ringleaders, Kyle Darius Sterling (30), of Stubden Rise, Bradford and Lee Bavin (30) of Bradford, were also part of the gang and were sentenced today.

Bradford to Harrogate county line

According to North Yorkshire Police, its organised crime unit began an investigation in 2019 into the supply of Class A drugs being “peddled” through county lines operating between Bradford and Harrogate.

Police said the gang “flooded” Harrogate and crack cocaine, adding in a statement:

“A joint operation involving the regional organised crime unit, West Yorkshire Police, the National Crime Agency and the National County Lines Coordination Centre, was launched in February 2020 and saw the arrest of a number of suspects from both towns. The heads of the operations being in Bradford and those lower down the chain coming from Harrogate.

“At that time, some of the phone lines identified as being key to facilitating the sale of drugs were taken out of action through Drug Dealing Telecommunication Restriction Orders. This was to disrupt the gangs’ ability to advertise the drugs for sale.”

Kyle Sterling (left) and Lee Bavin

Sterling, of Stubden Rise, was jailed for 11 years and four months.

Police said he was at the “head of the operation for the so-called Jerry-line” and dictated the move of large quantities of class A drugs through the county.

This was done through the use of couriers, who travelled from Bradford to Harrogate. The drugs were then sold to local users after being “advertised through mass mobile phone text messages” sent by Sterling.

Bavin, who is currently in prison but was previously of Manchester Road in Bradford, was jailed for five years and six months.

North Yorkshire Police said he was “second in command” and responsible for topping up phone lines to continue the operation, as well as travelling to Harrogate to “oversee the smooth selling drugs”, adding:

“He stayed at the homes of local people while he was in Harrogate in a practice known as cuckooing.”

The force said seven of the couriers involved, who transported drugs and money between Bradford and Harrogate, have been treated as victims of exploitation and human trafficking. It said “safeguarding measures were put in place at the time”.

“Bavin and Stirling both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

“They were also charged with human trafficking offences under the Modern Slavery Act in relation to the seven children they used to supply drugs.

“The court agreed that these modern slavery offences would be allowed to lie on file.”

Four Harrogate people sentenced

Six local drug users from Harrogate who sold the drugs on behalf of Sterling and Bavin in return for payment in crack and heroin.

They were also charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and were given sentences ranging from 12 months in custody to 24-month suspended sentences:

Gilham was jailed for 12 months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He was also sentenced for a separate offence of animal cruelty unconnected to the drug supply investigation. He was given 16 months in prison for this offence, making a total of two years and four months’ imprisonment.

Aylott was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months. She was also given a drug rehabilitation order.

Hollowed was given two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Wilsher was given two years’ imprisonment  suspended for two years. He was also given an electronic tag curfew between 7pm and 6am.

Khan (of Bradford) was given an 18-month sentence suspended for 18 months and required to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

A sixth defendant failed to appear and a bench warrant was issued by the court for his arrest. He has not been named due to other outstanding legal matters, officers said.

Detective Constable Adam Heatlie, of North Yorkshire Police’s organised crime unit, said:

“Today’s outcome is a result of a lengthy and painstaking investigation spanning several years. We are pleased to finally see the results at court and welcome the sentences that take two key drug dealers off our streets.

“They flooded Harrogate with drugs, making money at the expense of local users, the majority of whom were vulnerable due to their socioeconomic background and mental health conditions. They have no conscience and no concern whatsoever for the people they are putting at risk of serious harm. They now have ample time to reflect on their life-choices and the damage it causes.”

‘Used children as a commodity’

Speaking about the exploitation of the children involved, DC Heatlie added:

“Bavin and Sterling showed no regard whatsoever for the children they exploited and recruited to do their dirty work in a bid to hide their own tracks and evade detection.

“They used the children as a commodity to help them make money, and to face the dangers on the streets so that they didn’t have to. They should hang their heads in shame.”

He added:

“Drug dealing and the violence and exploitation that accompanies county lines remains a foremost priority for North Yorkshire Police. We are committed to disrupting the offenders and taking those responsible off the streets.

“We urge anyone with information to continue to report information about drug dealing in their area. It’s vital in helping us piece together the bigger picture.

“No matter how insignificant you think the information is, please call us. And if you don’t want to speak to us, you can pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers.”

Read more:

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A drug dealer has been jailed for two years and two months after police intercepted his vehicle in Harrogate.

Bakar Ranian, 45, of Conway Grove, Harehills, Leeds, was jailed by York Crown Court today (December 5) after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today officers on proactive patrols in and around Harrogate spotted a vehicle that had been making regular trips between Leeds and Harrogate on November 11.

It said its movements were consistent with an organised crime group involved in the supply of class A drugs.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police’s county lines Operation Expedite team, stopped the vehicle, a BMW 1 series, in Harrogate and asked the driver to explain his movements.

The driver was Bakar Ranian, originally from Hackney in London but who had recently become a resident of Leeds.

The police said his account was implausible and vague and it began to change when challenged by officers.

Ranian was detained for a search under Misuse of Drugs Act, as was his vehicle. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cocaine after officers found drugs on him following the search.

Some of the seized drugs.

A search of his vehicle led to officers finding £100 cash and a large quantity of suspected class A drugs, all concealed in various compartments in the vehicle.

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They recovered three large snap bags that each contained multiple deal snap bags inside them.

They located a further four large snap bags each containing multiple deal bags of white powder, inside in a bag wrapped in a hat, concealed in the boot.

A single bag of white powder was also located within the glovebox. Police then conducted a search of his address where approximately £2,000 cash was found and further evidence of his drug dealing activities.

In total officers recovered 109 packages of cocaine and four bags of MDMA with a combined street value of approximately £5,000.

PC Michael Haydock of Operation Expedite, who lead the investigation said:

“Bakar Ranian was working for a county line with the sole objective of selling highly dangerous and addictive drugs on the streets of Harrogate.

“He has knowingly broken the law and has clearly made a significant financial gain from his criminal activity. This has now been taken away from him. He, like many others before him, have sold these drugs without the slightest bit of thought or consideration for the wider implications of their actions.

“I am pleased to see that he has been imprisoned for his crimes and hopefully, he will now see the error of his ways. Similarly, anyone who believes they can commit drug crime in North Yorkshire should see this as a warning that drug dealers will be pursued and sent to prison”

Police in Harrogate have made six arrests – including a 15-year-old boy – during a national week of action to target County Lines drug dealing. 

North Yorkshire Police made a total of 26 arrests across the county, seizing cash, suspected drugs, mobile phones and weapons including two machetes, three samurai swords, two knuckledusters and a pistol.

The week of action took place from Monday, October 9 to Sunday 15 and was coordinated by the National County Lines Coordination Centre.

Across the county, officers executed 14 warrants, seized over £70,000 in cash suspected to be linked to criminality, as well as several class A, B and C drugs, including 1-2 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of £70,000 from one vehicle in Scarborough. 

Teams from across the force carried out proactive enforcement against people with suspected links to drugs offences, as well as patrols at rail and bus stations with a specialist drugs dog. 

A plain-clothes police officer on a County Lines drugs raid.

Harrogate arrests

In Harrogate, the County Lines Intensification Week saw five incidents result in arrests.

In one, police stopped a vehicle on Cheltenham Parade and searched a 24-year-old man. They found 10 bags of compressed white powder, a knuckleduster, scales, cash and four mobile phones. He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a class-A drug, interviewed and released under investigation. 

In a separate incident, officers from the force’s Expedite Team witnessed a suspected drug deal taking place on Albany Avenue in Harrogate and arrested a 27-year-old man for being concerned in the supply of a class-A drug. He was interviewed and released under investigation. 

British Transport Police arrested a 15-year-old boy for theft and being concerned in the supply of a class-A drug and a class-B drug. A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a class-A drug and class-B drug. Both were released on conditional bail. 

Acting on a tip-off, North Yorkshire Police investigated suspicious activity taking place at a property linked to the supply of drugs. They searched a 36-year-old man and found class-A drugs, scales and a mobile phone.

The man was ultimately charged with eight offences relating to the possession and supply of cocaine, heroin and cannabis and remanded in custody to appear at York Magistrates’ Court. 

Finally, officers from the force’s Operation Expedite team stopped a vehicle on Church Lane in Harrogate that had been identified as being linked to drug supply. They arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of drug driving and entering the UK illegally. He was released under investigation for the driving offence and passed to immigration officials to be dealt with. 

Safeguarding

County Lines takes its name from the mobile phone lines used by dealers to communicate between towns and advertise drugs for sale. Vulnerable people – including children – are forced to deal drugs and dealers will often use local properties as a base for their activities; this is often acquired by force and referred to as ‘cuckooing’. 

As part of the week of action, proactive safeguarding and welfare checks were conducted at hotels and bed and breakfasts where vulnerable people are known to be living. In total, officers safeguarded 73 people who are known or suspected to be vulnerable to county lines exploitation. 

The force also held County Lines drop-in stalls in public areas for engagement within communities and members of the public. 

Read more:

• Police seize £100,000 cash in crackdown on Harrogate ‘county lines’; drug dealing
• Police arrest five in Harrogate as part of national county lines action
• 18 charged with county lines drug dealing in Harrogate

Detective chief inspector Andrew Simpson, who led the initiative for North Yorkshire Police, said: 

“Last week’s targeted activity demonstrates how we are working tirelessly to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs and protect the young and vulnerable in our communities who are exploited by them. 

“It’s important to stress that this is just one week’s activity, and this type of disruption and safeguarding is taking place in communities across North Yorkshire all year round. 

“As a force we are committed to cutting these County Lines and to protecting vulnerable people. But we cannot do this alone, our work with partners is important and we also need the support of the public.  

“It’s vital that everyone who cares for or knows young and vulnerable people understands the issue and knows the warning signs.” 

Children

To help raise awareness among children, the force worked with Christina Gabbitas, the popular children’s author of the No More Knives and Trapped by County Lines campaigns, to deliver talks alongside neighbourhood policing officers in several schools across the county. 

Christina said: 

“After the success of working together with North Yorkshire Police, I was commissioned to write a sequel story Trapped in County Lines. 

“The story aims to educate children and young people on the dangers of becoming involved with county lines through the power of storytelling. 

“Children and young people can sadly be victims of exploitation from organised crime groups. County Lines is a harsh reality of life, and in my opinion shouldn’t be sugar coated.”

Four members of an organised crime group involved in county lines drug dealing in Harrogate and surrounding areas have been jailed for a total of 31 years.

Ermal Biba, 39 of Trafalgar Court, Harrogate, Allaman Tatariku, 26 of Chatsworth Grove, Harrogate, Klajid Lleshi, 23 of Kinloss Court, Barnet, and Adam Sarkowski, 41 of Wedderburn Close, Harrogate, appeared for sentencing at Leeds Crown Court this morning.

Their activities were uncovered by Operation Logic, a police investigation into the supply of cocaine and cannabis in Harrogate and Rochdale, Greater Manchester, which commenced in September 2021.

The operation led police to Ashfield Road, Harrogate on May 5, 2022. where suspects Biba, Tatariku and Lleshi were discovered. 

After attempting to escape and assaulting officers, they were all arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs. Drugs and related items were seized along with cash and cannabis growing equipment.

A search of Sarkowski’s home resulted in mobile phones and sim cards being seized. 

These revealed information about county lines, drug-dealing activity and vehicles used, as well as many messages with customers relating to purchasing drugs. Forensic tests on cash found at the property also revealed cocaine traces.

Evidence uncovered by Operation Logic also connected Biba, Lleshi and Woodley to a large-scale cannabis production facility at Sherwood Business Park, Queensway, Rochdale. 

The site, uncovered by Greater Manchester Police, grew cannabis with a street value of £1,440,000.

In court this morning, Biba, who was described as the ring leader, was jailed for 13 years and six months.

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Tatariku was jailed for seven years and one month and Lleshi was jailed for six years and three months.

Sarkowski was jailed for four years and seven months.

Biba, Tatariku, Lleshi and Sarkowski pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply class A and class B drugs.

A fifth man, Gavin Woodley, 45, of Fairfax Avenue in Harrogate, was given a suspended sentence in March after pleading guilty to allowing a premises to be used under the Misuse of Drugs act.

Speaking after sentencing at Leeds Crown Court, Sinead Brocken, detective constable at North Yorkshire Police, said:

“We are delighted to have put a stop to this organised crime group, headed by Biba, who were responsible for supplying cocaine and cannabis to Harrogate and the surrounding areas for a period spanning between 2019 to 2022.

“Drug rings such as this have a ruinous effect on our society leaving a trail of misery. These individuals acted out of pure selfishness, disregarding the damage caused by drugs to both our communities and those addicted to them.”

Police say a new county lines drugs gang is responsible for a recent wave of violence in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police said today it had seized a taser, drugs, cash and a mobile phone from the town’s streets since it set up a new unit to tackle the gang at the start of June. Nine people have been arrested.

They said the new county line is believed to originate from West Yorkshire and was trafficking drugs into Harrogate via the road network and public transport.

Detective Chief Inspector Fionna McEwan, who is leading Operation Roll, said:

“The increased level of violence that we have seen recently has been targeted towards individuals who are involved in drug-related criminality.

“Driving this gang out of Harrogate is now a key priority for us and although we have seen success so far, there is more to be done.”

The new gang is believed to be from West Yorkshire.

DCI McEwan said Harrogate remained “one of the safest places to live in the country” but urged members of the public to “help us by being vigilant and checking in on the younger and vulnerable people in our communities”.

Several specialist officers have been assigned to disrupt the new drugs line.

A police statement said:

“The team operate predominantly in plain clothes and unmarked vehicles. A police dog which is trained to detect drugs is also being deployed to work at transport hub in Harrogate to intercept the supply of drugs by train and bus.

Police drugs dos are being used as part of the investigation.

Recent arrests

North Yorkshire Police provided the following details of recent arrests,

Assault on Dragon Road, Harrogate – Thursday, June 8

A man in 20s who was assaulted on Dragon Road in Harrogate sustained a serious injury to his leg.

An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing a wounding and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

A second man, also aged 18, was arrested on suspicion of causing a wounding, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, possession with intent to supply class A drugs, and possession of criminal property.

A third man, aged 52, was arrested on suspicion of processing criminal property and assisting an offender.

All three men were charged and remanded in custody to appear in court on York Crown Court on Monday, July 10.

(NYP Ref – 12230104602)

Police stop on Chelmsford Avenue, Harrogate on Friday, June 23

At 9pm officers from Operation Expedite were on routine patrol on Chelmsford Avenue when they identified three men suspected to be linked to county lines drug dealing. The three men spotted the officers and ran away. The team managed to detain two of the three men.

An 18-year-old man was in possession of a taser, 22 wraps of cocaine, £85 in cash and two mobile phones. He was arrested on suspicion of procession with intent to supply a class-A drug and possession of a weapon. He was charged and remanded in custody to appear at York Crown Court on Monday 31 July 2023.

A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a class A drug and possession of criminal property. He was interviewed and released on conditional bail while further enquiries are carried out.

Enquiries are continuing to locate the outstanding suspect.

(NYP Ref – 12230115980)

DCI Fionna McEwan is leading the police investigation.

Police search warrant on King Edward’s Drive on June 26

Officers acted on intelligence and executed a warrant at a property on King Edward’s Drive in Harrogate. When they entered the property, a man was seen dropping a mobile phone into a toilet.

A 29-year-old man and a 40-year-old man were both arrested for supplying cocaine and a modern slavery offence. A 35-year-old man was arrested for possession of a suspected class A drug and modern slavery.  They were all interviewed and bailed with conditions which prevent them from entering North Yorkshire.

(NYP Ref – 12230118198)

Assault on Bower Road on June 26

A man in his 30s was assaulted and received an injury to his face. A 41-year-old was arrested and later released. Enquiries are continuing.

(NYP Ref – 12230118424)

Police appeal for help spotting cuckooing

Cuckooing is the term given when drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person and use it at a base to sell and store drugs.  Cuckooing victims are often drug users themselves, or people who are vulnerable due to a mental or physical disability, their age or lifestyle.

Police said signs of cuckooing include:

• Increased callers at a property at all times of the day or night
• Increase in cars pulling up for short periods of time
• Different accents at a property
• Antisocial behaviour at a property
• Not seeing the resident for long periods of time
• Drug-related rubbish – small plastic bags, syringes
• Windows covered or curtains closed for long periods
• Unexplained or untreated injuries
• Children are groomed and exploited to deal drugs on behalf of organised criminals. These are the signs to look out for:
• Persistently going missing from school or home and / or being found out-of-area
• Unexplained money, clothes, or mobile phones

Anyone with concerns about county lines can speak to their local police on 101 or call 999 in an emergency. If you’d rather stay anonymous you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.