Members of three drugs gangs who conspired to traffic cocaine and cannabis between Manchester, Stoke and North Wales have been jailed, as first reported by the Manchester Evening News.

Bolton Crown Court heard that Declan Hayes, 33, headed a Manchester-based group, Lee Shaw, 39, led a group in Stoke, and Kyle Tracey, 39, headed a group in Wales despite living in Liverpool. The court was told each was involved in organising, shipping and directing the trafficking between the groups.

Roles in the operation

Prosecutors said Michael Corcoran, 51, was Hayes’ right-hand man. He ran a safe house used for meetings and storing drugs, and kept in regular contact with couriers working for the group.

Paul Birch, 42, was described as another "trusted lieutenant" of the Manchester gang. He travelled between Stoke and North Wales, where he met both Shaw and Tracey, and attended meetings at the safe house. Ashley Townley, 38, acted as a courier and became involved after Birch was arrested in July 2021.

In the Stoke group, Simon Rutter, 37, acted as Shaw’s lieutenant. Prosecutors said he also ran a drugs line, sending out "marketing messages" for Class A substances. He was said to control courier Damien Baddeley, 37. The two men were arrested on 23 June while transporting a quarter of a kilogram of cocaine.

Rutter regularly called and met Birch, and travelled with Shaw to Manchester and Liverpool, the court heard.

Ben Illidge, 42, was also a courier and was later recruited to replace Rutter and Baddeley after their arrests. He was detained in possession of 2kg of cannabis after meeting Hayes and Townley.

Tracey was said to be in regular contact with Hayes as head of the North Wales group. He visited the Manchester safe house and, the court heard, "disappeared" when others were arrested and police recovered Class A drugs.

Sentencing and next steps

Sentencing the men, Judge Jon Close said he was satisfied that more than 40kg of drugs were moved during 13 deliveries. The report describes the terms as hefty, but the sources provided do not give the length of each sentence.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, which considers whether money or assets gained from crime can be recovered, has been set for 15 March next year in respect of Corcoran, Baddeley, Townley, Birch and Illidge.

Cannabis is a Class B drug and cocaine a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.