THE leader of a crack cocaine dealing ring has been jailed for seven years.

James Swindells, from Chapelford, was caged at Chester Crown Court today, Tuesday, after admitting conspiracy to supply class a class A drug.

Prosecution barrister Simon Parry told the court that the 28-year-old and his fellow defendant Kyle Williams were members of a ‘large scale’ gang operating in the Ellesmere Port area.

Warrington Guardian:

Kyle Williams

Swindells’ home on Missouri Drive was one of 20 properties across Cheshire and Merseyside which were raided by police in June last year following a nine-month investigation.

A samurai sword and drug paraphernalia were recovered from his address, while officers also seized a safe, a gold Rolex watch worth more than £10,000 and an iPhone from him.

He led the ‘Scouse Jay’ team, and was responsible for the graft phone used by the gang – as well as couriering items and meeting with other conspirators.

It is estimated that, over the course of the police probe, the organised crime group supplied roughly 881g of cocaine in the town.

Swindells – a dad to a five-year-old son who has 11 previous convictions for 33 offences, including one for possession of cocaine and heroin with intent to supply as a juvenile in 2009 – hopes to take up employment on the railways upon his release from prison.

Williams admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession of a class B drug with intent to supply.

The 20-year-old, of Ellesmere Port, was imprisoned for three years.

Dozens of other defendants have been charged and jailed for their respective parts in the operation since last summer.

Judge Steven Everett told the pair, who appeared in court via a video link to HMP Altcourse, that cocaine was ‘an evil drug that caused untold harm’.

Warrington Guardian:

The honorary recorder of Chester also found that Swindells was ‘motivated to be in the drugs gang for financial gain’.

He will be brought back before the same court for a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act later this year, during which he could be ordered to repay his ill-gotten gains.