The girlfriend of a drug dealer who recruited her mother, father and brother to his gang has been handed a suspended prison sentence. Jodie Bowie, 32, of Failsworth, Manchester, was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and money laundering.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Jonathan Walsh, 33, headed a network trafficking amphetamine and cannabis to the East Midlands. He met Bowie on Facebook while serving time for armed robbery. After his release, he moved in with her and funded a lavish lifestyle including designer clothes, jewellery, high-powered cars and cosmetic surgery.
When Bowie's uncle Joseph Grey, one of Walsh's couriers, was arrested in possession of a hand grenade and a gun, Bowie turned to her parents and brother to help move the cash. Her mother Janice Bowie, father and brother were involved in the operation.
Police raided the couple's home and found over £100,000 worth of designer goods as well as £10,000 in cash. Prosecutor Tom Challinor said Bowie's legitimate income could not have supported such a lifestyle. The ringleader Walsh was arrested after a police chase and found with 15kg of cannabis worth £150,000.
Walsh pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering and was jailed for 15 years. Joseph Grey received eight-and-a-half years. Others involved, including Walsh's brother Noel Walsh and courier Kaylum Davies, received prison terms.
Sentencing the gang, Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said: 'Cannabis is responsible for psychosis, depression and paralysis. It ruins lives equally damaged by OCGs such as this one in our society.' She noted that Bowie stood to gain financially from the operation and recruited family members as couriers.
