Legal News

The eleventh member of a drug gang operating in the Didcot area of Oxford has been jailed for four years and eight months at Oxford Crown Court.

Aaron Wright, 33, of Norreys Road in Didcot was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply the Class A drug cocaine,
one count of conspiracy to supply the Class A drug MDMA, one count of conspiracy to supply the Class B drug cannabis and one count of conspiracy to supply the Class B drug amphetamine.

Out of Wright’s co-defendants, eight were sentenced to a total of 73 years and 11 months in prison for drug offences at the beginning of January.

In December, the court sentenced two other defendants to a total of 18 years in prison. Another member of the gang was sentenced on 14 January.

The combined sentence for all 11 defendants is more than 90 years’ imprisonment.

Those convicted and sentenced were involved in organised crime groups (OCGs), which made millions of pounds supplying drugs across the South of England.

OCGs in Spain, Liverpool, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, London, Reading and Southend-on-Sea supplied the drugs – which were then stored at addresses in Didcot, Newbury, Reading and Hemel Hempstead.

The drugs were then prepared for onward distribution to Avon and Somerset, Swindon, Oxford, Reading and Didcot.

On 16 January 2015 – following a Thames Valley Police investigation into drugs supply in the Thames Valley area – two men who were part of the conspiracy, Arthur DeSousa and Gary DeOliveira, were arrested at a property in Newtown Road, Newbury, an address used regularly by DeOliveira.

A large amount of cocaine was found in their possession at the property.

Later that day, another man involved in the conspiracy, Vasil Rica, was arrested in Reading on suspicion of supplying cocaine to DeSousa and DeOliveira.

The ringleader, Neil Wadley – who lived in Didcot – fled the country the same day and was discovered in Spain shortly afterwards.

On 11 March 2015 – after co-operation with the Spanish police under Operation Captura, a Crimestoppers most wanted campaign – Neil Wadley was arrested under a European Arrest Warrant and was flown back to the UK to face charges.

On the same day, another phase of arrests of those involved in the investigation was also carried out. All the arrests were linked to a number of conspiracies to supply drugs. Some of those arrested were involved in bringing the drugs to the organised crime group, while others were involved in storing, adulterating and distributing drugs.

After sentencing, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Adrian Foster, said:

“These defendants, led by Neil Wadley, were part of a gang involved in a professional and organised operation to peddle substantial quantities of high purity drugs from the Didcot area.

“The organised crime group were responsible for purchasing, storing, cutting, repackaging and then selling both Class A and Class B drugs.

“The impact on communities of high level drug dealing is immense – drugs can ruin the lives of those who use them, affect the quality of life of people in our communities, and damage the lives of law abiding citizens who become the victims of crimes committed to fund drug habits.

“The defendants were motivated by money, without a care for the misery their actions were causing to the lives of others.

"We have worked closely with Thames Valley Police since this lengthy and complex investigation was launched.

“Thanks to a detailed police investigation followed by a robust prosecution, a substantial quantity of these drugs have been removed from the supply chain, these big time criminals have been removed from society – and the public has been made safe from their dangerous, harmful and life destroying activities.”

Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers

Duncan Lewis crime lawyers can advise at any stage of a charge involving drugs offences, including manufacturing, importing, distributing or supplying Class A and Class B drugs.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and a criminal defence solicitor can usually reach a police station within an hour for interview under caution.

For expert legal advice on drugs offences, call Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 0333 72 409.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.