Risley prison drone-drug conspirator jailed for longer by courts

Aaron Dodd was one of seven brazen gang members locked up for more than 35 years last month for flying drugs and phones into Risley prison, generating hundreds of thousands of pounds in profit.

The 31-year-old was put behind bars for seven years and 10 months for the seven-month conspiracy – but he has now been ordered to spend more time in custody.

This is after he was handed a consecutive sentence of three years at Chester Crown Court yesterday, Thursday, for further charges of conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

He was one of six men who aided the large-scale movement of class A drugs into Crewe who were jailed for a total of more than 33 years.

This is the second group of sentencings to take place as part of Operation Attached – an investigation launched by Cheshire Police into a class A drugs conspiracy led by an organised crime gang in the south Cheshire town.

It is estimated this conspiracy brought between £459,300 and £742,340 worth of cocaine, heroin, and crack cocaine into Crewe and surrounding areas from Liverpool over approximately 13 months.

Dodd was further down the hierarchy of the OCG, assuming the roles of a courier and street-level dealer.

Liverpool Crown Court previously heard how the plot ‘used sophisticated drones at night to deliver the contraband directly to prisoners’.

The plot saw drugs and phone smuggled into Risley prison

Dodd and fellow Risley inmate Charlie Swann played a ‘crucial’ role in directing the drone inbound, dealing the drugs and phones inside the prison and directing the payment from friends and relatives of prisoners into accounts of other conspirators.

Daniel Johnson, of Woodside Avenue, Alsager, was the drone pilot, whose ‘expertise’ enabled the smuggling of prohibited items into the prison.

Police used phone cell siting and vehicle ANPR data to bring down the gang, which showed that conspirators made repeated efforts to smuggle contraband into prison, at an almost weekly basis at first and then almost daily as the plot developed.

Members were witnessed in locations in close proximity to the prison, such as Silver Lane, New Church Lane and the Spar store on Warrington Road.

On September 29, 2020, after a drone was sited above the prison and during which time three defendants were cell sited in the area, prison officers confiscated two iPhones, nine sim cards and a haul of drugs from a cell adjacent to those of Swann, 26, and Dodd, 31.

Examinations showed that the while the cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and ketamine seized had a street value of up to £5,430, the inflated value inside the prison, due to demand and unavailability, was up to £54,800.

On January 13, 2021, Cheshire Police conducted five warrants in Crewe and Alsager as part of its investigation into the smuggling.

Ketamine, cocaine, MDMA and cannabis, with a street value of around £8,000 and prison value of around £78,200, were seized from a shed, as well as four drones, a controller and batteries.

The drones had been fitted with SD cards appearing to delete or obscure flight data, with some routes deemed ‘impossible’.

Risley conspirators from top left: Aaron Dodd, Matthew Cooke, Daniel Johnson, Thurlus Smith, Nicole Sims, Charlie Swann

For example, date suggested one drone had been flown in Greenland, and then over Alsager seconds later, however some evidence showed activity in the Silver Lane area of Risley.

One drone also had a ‘non-standard’ circuit board fitted to bypass manufacturer restrictions and allow it to fly in ‘no fly zones’ such as above prisons.

Dodd, of HM Prison Altcourse and formerly of the Crewe area, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, MDMA and cannabis and conspiracy to convey a list B prohibited article into prison.

It was said on his behalf that he was remorseful and had a difficult upbringing.

Before sentencing, judge David Swinnerton said: “It is estimated the possible total was hundreds of thousands of pounds in profit at the lower end, which shows the money that can be made.

“The supply of drugs in prison risks safety, leads to exploitation behaviour and gives power to more ruthless prisoners.

“It undermines discipline and good order, makes prisoners less safe and the jobs of prison officers very difficult. Mobile phones enable those on the inside to organise criminality outside.”

Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings, to learn how much each benefitted from their criminality and if they have to repay any of their ill-gotten gains, will take place over coming months.