10 May 2023 , 14:54
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A couple who helped cocaine kingpins running a 'drugs Deliveroo' are facing years behind bars for their role in a gang.
Middle-aged couple Stephen Jennings and Sarah Hunt carried out an estimated 2,000 deals making around £69,000 for drugs gang bosses, Mohammed Vakas Hussain and Humza Bhatti.
The pair acted as couriers for the gang's kingpins, responding to WhatsApp messages from further up in the chain organising cocaine deals around the city, Derbyshire Live reports.
A court heard the couple had been "partners in life and partners in crime", with a judge likening the set-up as a drugs version of Deliveroo.
Jennings and Hunt, both 49, made thousands for themselves off their "important part" in the conspiracy, Derby Crown court heard.
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But the pyramid collapsed after officers arrested another gang member caught delivering the Class A drug to a house, finding bags stashed in a plastic drinks bottle and an iPhone which led them to other conspirators.
Stephen Jennings was jailed four four years for his joint role in the enterprise (Derby Telegraph/BPM Media)Sarah Slater, prosecuting, told the court: "It is clear that they worked together, Jennings would drive, Hunt would be the passenger and would go out regularly to supply cocaine.
"On a regular basis, Miss Hunt or Mr Jennings would make contact with the AT Line first, they would then be given instructions and would go out to supply.
"They were sent postcodes or directions by SMS or WhatsApp or would receive them via a phone call.
"Evidence linked them to selling 1,995 deals with a value of £69,667.50 or 997.5g of cocaine. That's just these two alone."
Jailing the pair, Judge Shaun Smith KC said: “You were partners in life and partners in crime, you were a drugs version of Deliveroo in terms of the delivery of cocaine, the pair of you were at the beck and call of those further up the chain.
Derby Crown Court (Derby Telegraph/BPM Media)"This was not on an ad-hoc basis and you received some reward for that but I accept this is not a case where you made thousands of pounds or had items of luxury but that does not mean you were not playing an important part in this conspiracy."
"It seems to me you did have some awareness and understanding of the scale of the operation and you were both well at it by the time the police became involved."
The pair were both jailed for four years each.
Kingpins Hussain and Bhatti were jailed for a combined 14 years and three months earlier this year for their leading role in the gang after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine.
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Drugs kingpins Humza Bhatti and Mohammed Vakas Hussain were jailed earlier this year (Derby Telegraph/BPM Media)
The pair were arrested after cops found thousands in cash and designer items at their homes (Derby Telegraph/BPM Media)The February hearing was told how designer watches, purses, trainers and clothing from brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Christian Louboutin and Moncler were found by detectives when they raided Hussain’s address.
Meanwhile cash worth £70,000 was discovered at Bhatti’s home..
During the nine months of the conspiracy, known to drug users and the gang as the AT line, the prosecution estimated just short of 3kg of the substance was sold on the streets.
Jailing Hussain and Bhatti, Judge Smith told them: "The reality is you had a nice little business here, things were going well, you were buying nice things and until you got caught this was running successfully.
"This was a business and many people started businesses during Covid.
"Most were legitimate, yours was not, you two (Hussain and Bhatti) were in charge of it. You knew exactly what you were doing."