A FORMER Newcastle United academy player is one of a gang of drug dealers jailed for a total of 44 years after police seized £1.5m worth of cocaine and amphetamine.

The Northern Echo:
LOCKED UP: From left, top row, Michael Carr, David Lockhart, Paul Higginson, Michael Lead and Lee Curry; middle row, Lawrence Flanagan, Kevin Shiel, Kevin Heron, Kevin Dermott and Jonathan Gallagher, aka Jonathan Laws; front row, David Middleton, David Dillon, Carl Bateman, Ben Angus and Andrew Ferrell

Andrew Ferrell was arrested as part of Operation Wexford, which focused on an organised criminal network of drug distribution across the North-East.

The 29-year-old, of Adair Avenue, Benwell, Newcastle, was jailed for four years after working as a courier transporting drugs and large amounts of cash between dealers.

He was one of ten men sentenced today (Monday, June 17) at Newcastle Crown Court after all admitted key roles.

A further five men were spared jail for lesser roles. All pleaded guilty.

His Honour Judge Hickey said the gang ran an extremely "organised and complex criminal operation" to source and distribute drugs.

The court heard Ferrell had worked for the gang from May 2012 to June 2012 to pay for his gambling addiction.

Midfielder Ferrell joined Newcastle United in 2002 under Sir Bobby Robson before being released in the 2003/2004 season having played a handful of reserve team games. He was never picked for the first team.

His career gradually spiraled playing for Watford, York and Kidderminister before returning to Tyneside to play for Gateshead in 2009 until his release in 2011.

He played for Northern League side Bedlington Terriers, being paid £250-a-week, at the time of his arrest in October 2012.

The gang was led by Lawrence Flannagan, 46, who organised for cocaine to be delivered from Liverpool and amphetamines to be delivered from Teesside for distribution in Newcastle.

Flannagan, of Allendale Road, Byker, was jailed for eight years.

Flannagan was helped by David Dillon, 50, of Welbeck Road, Walker, who organised street dealers and was jailed for six years four months.

Detective Superintendent Steve Howes, of Northumbria Police, said: "This is an example of the large scale operation we carry out all the time to tackle the people involved in organised crime and causing the most harm in our communities. "This should send out a warning for others that we have a wide variety of tactics and methods to tackle the people bringing the most misery to neighbourhoods and we will be coming after them. There is no place to hide."

David Middleton, 52, of Wilton Avenue, Walker, was sentenced to five years and four months after headmitted supplying Class A and Class B drugs.

Jonathan Laws, AKA Gallagher, 32, of Bishop Rock Drive in Longbenton, was jailed for two years and four months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Lee Curry, a "delivery driver", of Elizabeth Drive, Forest Hall, was sentenced to two years for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.

Michael Lead, 25, of Langdale Close, Longbenton, was jailed for 20 months for conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs.

Paul Higginson, 30, of Severus Road, Fenham, received four years after admitting the same offences.

Kevin Dermott, 49, who transported cocaine from his hometown of Liverpool to the North-East, was jailed for six years and three months after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Ben Angus admitted conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. The 24-year-old, of Parklands Avenue in Billingham, was jailed for four years and six months.

Delivery driver Carl Bateman, 28, of Coronation Street, North Shields, received a 12-month sentence suspended for two years for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.

Michael Carr, 52, of Appletree Gardens, Walkergate, was handed a two-year sentence suspended for two years for conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Street dealer Kevin Heron, 32, of Cleadon Street, Walker, was given a two-year sentence, suspended for two years.

Kevin Shiel, 49, of Morton Street, Walker, was sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.

David Lockheart, 53, of Burwood Road, Walker, who allowed his house to be used for the supply of Class B drugs, was given a nine-month community order with nine months supervision.